Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits the Barclays Premier League does not get any easier. The Black Cats are ending the campaign just outside the drop zone, but with five clubs still fighting for their lives on the final day of the season, he believes the gap between the top six and the foot of the table has decreased markedly.
Bruce said: "Hang on a minute - Arsenal have won two in 10, Tottenham have won one in six after beating Liverpool last week, and the teams at the bottom, even Blackpool - to get to 39 points, what an achievement that is, and still they are fighting.
"If we had won last week, we would have gone eighth, for a few hours, anyway. It shows you how close it is.
"It's been quite an incredible season and all credit to every team - 39 points and five teams still fighting against relegation is scary, really.
"If all of us had seen that at the start of the season, it would have scared the pants off us all because usually one or two are set adrift, but five clubs are still hanging by a thread.
"Thankfully we are not in there, which is a relief for all Sunderland fans."