Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has claimed that his team will stay up if they manage to keep 13 clean sheets in the Premier League.

The Black Cats are currently one point adrift of safety following eight defeats, three draws and just two wins.

In 13 league games, Sunderland have conceded 26 goals.

"We have to stop the goals going in," Allardyce told reporters. "The defence was what kept Sunderland in the Premier League last year because the two leading scorers were Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher with five each.

"If we get 13 clean sheets this year we'll stay up. The most important thing is if we can continue to be very difficult to beat, to score against - that is the starting point."

Sunderland's next game is at home to Stoke City on Saturday.