Sunderland wing-back Danny Rose admits victory over Norwich City tonight will be critical.

With Chelsea due at the Stadium of Light on December 8 and then a trip to Manchester United to come before champions Manchester City and then Tottenham visit Wearside in the space of four days over Christmas, Rose knows picking up points as 2012 draws to a close will be intensely difficult.

He said: "It's not just Norwich, all the games are important. We have got a very, very, very difficult month.

"We have got Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs - they are four games that at the minute, I know there won't be many people who think we will get anything out of those games, so Sunday is a massive game and we are going to have to do everything we can to get three points."