By The Black Cats
May 22 2009

Nothing would have given Phil Bardsley greater pleasure than the prospect of pulling on a red and white shirt on Tuesday, or on Wednesday, or on Thursday, or ... well, you probably get the message.

Having scored an own-goal in the 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth on Monday night, the wait for redemption has felt interminable for the defender, who is desperate to play his part in putting things right. Or as he put, "we're ready to roll."

There is no bluster about Bardsley. No frills, no messing, no deployment of 20 words when one would suffice. He accepts that Sunderland have not lived up to their billing this season, but knows there is little point dissecting it now.

There is one game to go. One final hurdle at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, when the Black Cats confront Chelsea. Ricky Sbragia's team are two points clear of the bottom-three and, not for the first time, they have the power to determine their own fate.

Chelsea have an FA Cup final the following weekend to consider, but Sunderland effectively have a cup final of their own, a one-off match to determine the outcome of an entire campaign.

"We've got to put Monday night out of our minds," Bardsley said. "Especially because we were 1-0 up. Mistakes have cost us, but that's part of the game and it's how you to react. And we've got to react in the right way and try to get something out of Chelsea.

"What we know is that it's still in our own hands. If we play like we have been doing, I'm sure we can give them a run for their money.

"I don't think I've been involved in a bigger game than this. Everyone knows how important it is. It's about self pride and everyone's up for it. Everyone's really relishing it and ready for it. The tension is mounting and everyone's talking about it. Bring it on.

"I wouldn't say I was nervous. Anxious, maybe, but ready to roll really and after the game on Monday night, I just want to get back out again and play. That's the way football is."

Bardsley, the right-back, had the huge misfortune to score past Marton Fulop at Fratton Park, having raced back to intercept John Utaka following an error by Anton Ferdinand.

"I just tried my best to get back to my tackle, but unluckily for me it's gone in," he said. "But you can't let those things affect you and you've just got to get on with it.

"I feel like I'm cursed against Portsmouth. I don't think I've ever won there to be honest, but we move on to the next game now."

Which means John Terry, Frank Lampard et al.  

"We realise how good Chelsea are," Bardsley said "They're a brilliant team, but we've got to take the game to them and do the best we can. I'm sure we can get something out of it.

"We've had a lot of chances to nail our position, but people forget how good the league is sometimes. There are lot of good players in the league and if you fail to take your chances and make mistakes here and there, you find yourself in these positions.

"But it's still in our own hands and the teams below us have got difficult games as well and we're two or three points better off than them. We've just got to focus on our job."

As always, Sunderland will be cheered to the echo by their passionate supporters. One more push, one more 90 minutes and they can reflect on a promising future and a third consecutive season in the Barclays Premier League.

"The fans are brilliant, they come with us everywhere," Bardsley said. "They've been terrific at the Stadium of Light all season and they deserve to end the season with a good performance from us, with the icing on the cake being staying in the Premier League.

"That's what everyone is focussing on and trying to achieve. Hopefully we can all do that together."

(source SAFC.com)