Di Canio says 'beat Villa, stay up'

Paolo Di Canio says Sunderland will stay up if they can beat Aston Villa Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Competition: Barclays Premier League

Venue: Villa Park

Kick-off: Mon 29th Apr, 8pm

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio says the club will stay up if they can beat Aston Villa on Monday night.

A victory for the Black Cats would put them six points ahead of Villa in the table with just three games remaining, meaning Sunderland would be almost certain to finish the season above Paul Lambert's team.

Speaking ahead of the match, Di Canio said:

TEAM NEWS

Craig Gardner returns from suspension. The midfielder has missed Sunderland's last two matches after collecting ten yellow cards.

Phil Bardsley has been out with an ankle injury but could feature for the Black Cats after Di Canio rated the defender as "okay" for the trip to Villa Park.

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

  • Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa - 3rd Nov 2012

  • Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland - 21st Apr 2012

  • Sunderland 2-2 Aston Villa - 29th Oct 2011

  • Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland - 5th Jan 2011

  • Sunderland 1-0 Aston Villa - 23rd Oct 2010