The gaffer reflected on dragging Sunderland into the play-offs, after a chaotic final day which could have had several permutations...
"That was obviously the outcome we needed from today. We wanted to win the game, we'd rather won it by a better margin and played a bit smoother and cleaner in certain parts of the game. But there's a lot at stake, a lot at risk, and they make it really difficult here. Their home record is far improved from their away record, certainly in terms of conceding goals. So we knew it was going to be a tough game. I've watched Oxford lose here, Ipswich drew here and had to score in the 86th minute, Bolton drew here and had to score in the 94th minute. We knew it was going to be tough- they're fighting for their lives and we knew we had to move the ball well. Could have done that a bit better, but defensively solid. I don't think Patto had a save to make, and we had a couple of chances in the second half to finish it of. So I'm pleased."
VS SHEFF WED
"In terms of fanbase you're not going to get any bigger at this level. It's going to make for some occasion, so we'll be ready. It'll be a big game on both occasions, and we want to make sure we do ourselves justice."
BROADHEAD
"It's a major concern. We've got another couple of players who've been key for me that I'm missing today as well. We're hoping we might have one or two back for the next one, but it's an area where we're light and unfortunately he seems to have picked up a niggle."
2 POINTS PER GAME
"The lads were saying it's been 30 points from 15 games, and normally if you go into a season looking for promotion you go for two points a game. And if you get two points per game you get out of the league. But we've had to go two points per game just to get into the play-offs. So it's been testing, but hopefully that will set us up for what's to come because there's going to be big matches on the horizon with a lot of pressure attached to them. But we play under pressure regularly- and so do Sheffield Wednesday. I don't think anybody's going to be fazed by these games."
DETERMINED
"We know how big it is. We don't need reminding how big these games are. We're fully aware of it. I can assure any fan that these lads, myself and the coaching staff want to do it as much as anyone else connected to Sunderland. We're really determined, we've worked really hard and we deserve to be where we are. So I'm looking forward to it."
