Defoe: Sunderland have a point to prove

Jermain Defoe insists Sunderland have a point to prove in their FA Cup clash with Burnley this weekend, after raising the bar with their thrilling comeback against Liverpool on Monday.

The Black Cats twice came from behind as two Defoe penalties saw them win a point on home soil against Jurgen Klopp’s men, after the Reds had taken the lead on two occasions through Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane.

On Saturday, they welcome Burnley to Wearside for their second tie against the Clarets in a week, having suffered a 4-1 defeat at Turf Moor on New Year’s Eve.

But while the loss may still be fresh in their minds, Defoe insists his teammates are determined to turn their fortunes around.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

“We’ll bring them here and we owe them one,” he said. “It’s a cup game and we always want to do well in the cups.

“We’ve got a few injuries so I’m not sure what the manager is going to do, but we want to win games because it’s good for the confidence within the squad.

“We can’t approach it lightly and we want to win, especially with the game being at home.

“I think if you work hard and give everything but then lose the game, you can hold your hands up and say ‘fair enough’, but if you don’t do that it’s unacceptable.

“The manager wanted a reaction and he definitely got that against Liverpool.”