Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole has admitted that he was disappointed Steve Bruce got the sack but delighted that Martin O'Neill has stepped in.
The Black Cats took action in ending Bruce's tenure at the Stadium of Light in late November and although that decision left Cattermole 'gutted', he is thoroughly enjoying life under O'Neill.
"But a new voice has come in and straight away, you just want to impress and that's what you do.
"But just winning games as well, people automatically start to say you are playing better.
"We are just winning games. It is not necessarily everyone is playing better, it's winning games.
"The confidence is there and it's great. We have been flying. We have had a great start, it couldn't have gone any better under the new manager.
"We are playing well, we just need to keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard and not get too carried away.""It's the first time I have had a manager been sacked, and I was devastated for Steve and absolutely gutted for him," he said.
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