Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia never envisaged being involved in a desperate fight for Barclays Premier League survival after a blistering start to his managerial career.
Sbragia was thrust into the hotseat, initially on a caretaker basis, after Roy Keane sensationally resigned in the wake of a 4-1 home defeat by Bolton on December 29.
A last-gasp defeat at Manchester United in his first game in charge was followed by comprehensive victories over West Brom and Hull and a 0-0 draw with Blackburn which persuaded chairman Niall Quinn he was the man for the job on a permanent basis.
But a little more than four months on, Sbragia will lead his side back into battle with Bolton knowing defeat could leave his club in severe danger of slipping out of the top flight.
Asked if he could have imagined being in such a situation back in January, Sbragia said: "No, not at all. We kicked on and I had the feeling we would get some sort of response from them. But we have been disappointing over the last nine games now.
"I have been really disappointed. I hope we don't think we are safe - I have always thought we have never been safe, to be truthful. We haven't had a really great team performance and it is a concern."
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Agree with both comments below - he's the MANAGER and he's paid big bucks NOT to be suprised !!!!!
He did ok as Caretaker but Quinn went for the cheap option in making it permanent (Sammy Lee Syndrome springs to mind) - Curbishly would have done a job if he had been willing to go to Sunderland.
Malcolm D (Comment 1)- 100% spot on and add in a managerial change to your statement even if you manage to stop up - last game was woeful - never seen a Sunderland Team play like that!!!!!!!!!!!
In any event, good luck in a battle you should never be in !
This has to be the understatement of the season . If Ricky Sbragia feels disappointed how does he think we feel as fans????
The palyers are the ones resonsible and they must be brought to book and suffer the consequences of their actions regardless of how our season ends. If we stay up, their contracts need to be severely looked at and re written to suit the club and not them as indivdiuals.
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