QPR striker Jay Bothroyd has revealed he came close to signing for Sunderland.

Bothroyd almost signed for Sunderland two years ago, only to snub a move to the Stadium of Light to stay at Cardiff City, before joining QPR that summer.

He told the Fulham Chronicle: "I almost joined Sunderland. It was a choice between them and Newcastle, but I decided it wasn't the right time to move and stayed at Cardiff instead.

"We were going for promotion at the time and I wanted to try and finish the job so I turned it down. Martin O'Neill's a very good manager, and I'm sure he will be successful.

"But it's wide open at the bottom and teams can be dragged into it, just like Birmingham and Blackpool in recent years.

"If we can get back-to-back wins it piles pressure on the sides above us and give us a real chance."