Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill says he's ready to "fight them" as the club battles against the slide.

O'Neill says Black Cats owner Ellis Short is right behind him.

But he knows a run of three wins from the last 26 top-flight matches needs to be sorted - starting at home to rock-bottom QPR tonight.

O'Neill said: "The owner has said it will take time to get things together here.

"We've had some very good talks. He genuinely wants stability at the club."

And when asked about having thick skin to survive in the Premier League, O'Neill added: "Wasn't it Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid who once said 'I want to fight them, I want to fight them... so stay there and fight them'."