Sunderland captain John O'Shea says beating the drop would prove a successful season for the club.

The Black Cats face a massive game against relegation rivals Aston Villa tonight.

Asked how he has coped with fighting at the foot, rather than the top, of the table, the 31-year-old said: "Look, it's one of those things, that's just how things have turned out.

"But success for certain teams can be measured in different ways all the time.

"If we, Sunderland, survive in the league, it's obviously going to be a success because we were in a precarious position.

"We are still in a small bit of a precarious position, but thankfully we have the power in our own hands to survive that, and we have to continue that."