Can Defoe provide the spur for Sunderland's survival?

By Martyn McFadden

Sunderland kicked off their new year with a victory after putting three goals past Aston Villa at home. While our home form has been disappointing over the last few seasons, Allardyce ensured that we did not start 2016 in the same vein.

While Aston Villa went into the game the only team below Sunderland, indicating that the game would probably be of low quality, the match served to mark who the worst team in the league is – thankfully it isn't us. Our work ethic was good throughout the whole game, but it was two pieces of individual quality from Jermain Defoe that sealed the game.

Having a striker like Defoe in your side can be frustrating if you are struggling away at the foot of the table. He isn't a player who is going to have a strong presence in the game, but he's in there to make himself known when the ball is inside the box. Defoe justified his selection by converting two chances, one of which he forged himself, and appeared to play better with Ola Toivonen on the pitch, perhaps due to the Swede creating more space for Defoe, the poacher.

It will be interesting to see whether Allardyce decides to again start with Duncan Watmore, or will leave the nippy youngster until later in the game. The lad is still developing as a talent, but has all the power and enthusiasm to change a game. Whether or not that is more effective from the start, or around 60 minutes in, is the question for big Sam.