Lawrence wants to make Stadium of Light a fortress
Sunderland midfielder Liam Lawrence is hoping the Stadium of Light will help his side grab a Barclays Premiership lifeline over Christmas.
The Black Cats face in-form Bolton and Everton on Wearside before the turn of the year and know a return to the days when teams feared visiting will help them dig themselves out of trouble.
Mick McCarthy’s men have not won a league game at home in nine attempts so far this season, and have lost all but two of those matches to contribute towards their paltry tally of just five points from their 17 outings.
Indeed, they have not won a top-flight game at home since Liverpool left on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline on December 15, 2002, a run of 19 games.
That must change if relegation is to be avoided, although that is already a big challenge with Sunderland certain to be bottom of the table going into 2006 even if they beat Bolton on St Stephen's Day and then take all three points at Blackburn two days later.
“The fact that we have not won at home by now is disappointing,” said 24-year-old Lawrence. “Over the years, the Stadium of Light has been an intimidating place, but the opposite has been the case this season.
“Teams have enjoyed coming here, it has been too easy for them. That has got to change and it’s up to us to make it change. We just need that first win to spark things, I’m sure of that.”
The Black Cats had a chance to re-group over the weekend after their clash with Liverpool was brought forward because of the Reds’ participation in the World Club Championship.
However, they will return to action on the back of a run of 10 successive defeats in all competitions, nine of them in the league, a run of games which has made the holiday schedule all the more important.
“The Christmas schedule is tough, but we are all fit lads and we can handle it,” Lawrence told the club’s official website, www.safc.com. “Bolton will fancy their chances here on Boxing Day, but we have got to match them and win the fight.
“I think we need to be looking at two or three wins over Christmas. If we can do that, it will hand us a lifeline.”
Although Sunderland’s only league victory so far came on the road at Middlesbrough in September, Lawrence believes the club’s best chance of survival lies in their ability to turn around their home form in the 10 remaining fixtures.
“We have got to win at least half of them,” he admitted.
