Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has warned his players they are not yet safe.

Despite his side being well clear of trouble in ninth with 37 points he stressed the Blackburn result should serve as a warning.

"It is really difficult to throw my weight around," he said. "We should have done better and I think we know.

"We have to be right and we haven't reached a situation where we can relax and shouldn't be able to relax.

"It is a lesson for us that at this stage of our development we have to be with it and stay with that intensity."