Turner targets strong finish

Michael Turner: Sunderland defender wants a strong finish to the season

Michael Turner has urged his Sunderland team-mates not to let their season end with a whimper.

The Black Cats were revived by the appointment of Martin O'Neill in early December and ascended up the table from 17th place and peaked in eighth position.

Monday's defeat against Everton, however, saw them slip out of the top 10 for only the second time since the Ulsterman's arrival.

Competition for a top-10 finish is intense, but that is the target for Sunderland who managed that feat last term.

Strongly

And after the early flurry of points that greeted O'Neill's arrival on Wearside, Turner is adamant they can build on that.

"We want to finish the season strongly, we don't want to let it just fizzle out," the Sunderland stopper told The Echo.

"I don't think we have to set ourselves a points target or anything like that. But we just want to win more games and finish what's been a good season after a bad start.

"If we can get a few wins and put a smile on the fans' faces, then going into next season we can look forward to it."