Steven Pienaar has paid tribute to the red and white army ahead of Sunderland’s EFL Cup tie at Southampton.
The third away game inside 11 days, Wednesday’s trip to St Mary’s will once again see the Sunderland fans travel in numbers following sell-out supports at Stoke City and West Ham United.
And Pienaar admits the Black Cats are determined to reward the Wearside faithful for their support, admitting failure on the road leaves a bitter taste for the players who want to send the supporters home with a spring in their step.
“It’s about time we start paying them back,” demanded the South African. “We need to walk off the field on Wednesday knowing we gave everything and they can be proud of us.
“To travel so far in just over a week – Stoke, West Ham and Southampton – means you can see the supporters are right behind the team.”
He continued: “As players it hurts more for us to disappoint them and to send them back home without a result to cheer about because they put so much effort into the club and the team, so we have to give it our all and make sure the supporters go home happy.
“If you win the game you get some confidence to take into the next one.
“We have to take each one at a time because Arsenal will be a new team and a new challenge, and we have to be mentally prepared to face that them.”
