Sunderland skipper John O'Shea is determined not to find himself involved in a relegation battle next season. The 33-year-old central defender told the club's official website: "You don't get any medals from climbing away from the foot of the table, but I was asked how the feeling we have at the moment compares with collecting a winners' medal.
"Undoubtedly the elation we are all experiencing has got to be up there.
"The achievement is all the more satisfying because of the teams we have had to face in recent weeks and the pressure we were under when we were written off.
"We have stood up to it and, after last season, we are already thinking about making sure that next year, we start off much better so we don't find ourselves in the situation we have just come through."
