Sunderland 'buy into' Paulo Di Canio vision

Captain John O’Shea says Sunderland’s players are “really buying into” new manager Paolo Di Canio’s methods as they go in search of a third win in a row at Aston Villa on Monday night.

The Black Cats lead a group of three teams on 37 points, with Villa three points below. Wins over Newcastle and Everton make Di Canio’s side the form team in the relegation battle, and O’Shea is focused on making it three in a row. “It’s all well and good getting back-to-back wins, but if we could beat Villa on Monday night, that would be massive,” he said.

Of Di Canio, O’Shea added: “The lads see what he’s prepared – whether that’s little videos on the opposition or things we can hope to take advantage of – and when they see it happening in games and watch it back, they really buy into what’s going on.”