Martin O’Neill believes that his Sunderland side are now in the relegation fight, following their defeat to QPR.

The Black Cats slumped to a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Premier League’s bottom team at Loftus Road on Saturday, meaning they have picked up just two points from their last six top tier games.

Despite this, the Stadium of Light outfit are six points clear of the drop zone, but with QPR, Aston Villa and Wigan beginning to show signs of a revival, the order could change quickly.

O’Neill is aware that his team are being sucked into the battle at the foot of the table and believes nothing will change unless they can start winning:

“I’m not surprised at all that we’re in this position, I thought it was going to be very tough. It has been like that all season.” He is quoted by The Mirror.

“We were only a couple of points off 10th when we went into the game but we’ve been looking over our shoulder all season.

“Something has to change. We need to win.”

Unlike their weekend opponents QPR, Sunderland have been operating on a limited budget in the transfer market.

But O’Neill is far from jealous of the Super Hoops, and says that if they beat the drop owner Tony Fernandes deserves praise:

“QPR bought big in the transfer window,

“That’s a risk they were prepared to take, and if it comes off, well done to the owner, who’s really put himself out on a limb.

“We don’t possess the same type of talent and numerically we are a bit down in the squad but that’s our problem.”

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