Moyes: Sunderland deserved something against Middlesbrough

David Moyes felt Sunderland deserved
something against Middlesbrough but vowed to
keep fighting to escape Premier League relegation.
Marten de Roon's eighth-minute strike consigned
bottom side Sunderland to a 1-0 defeat against
their fellow strugglers at the Riverside on
Wednesday.
Didier Ndong and Wahbi Khazri forced Brad Guzan
into saves with shots from outside the box, but the
Boro keeper was largely untroubled across the 90
minutes.
Sunderland now sit 12 points adrift of safety at the
foot of the table, and the Black Cats will be
relegated this weekend if Hull City avoid defeat at
Southampton and they fail to match their result
against on Bournemouth on Saturday.
Moyes rued a missed opportunity to move closer to
safety but is refusing to throw in the towel.
"We started great and actually we played well
throughout the game tonight, but we gave away a
poor goal," he told Sky Sports.
"We certainly deserved to get something out of the
game. We only gave up two opportunities in the
whole game. We had some that weren't clear
enough, but it wasn't for the want of trying from
the players.
"We will continue fighting. We know the position
isn't good and every game that goes past makes it
harder.
"I felt tonight this is one we had to win, but we'll
get another chance to win on Saturday so let's
hope we can put in a similar performance which
leads to goals and hopefully three points."
Head coach Steve Agnew got his first taste of
victory since taking over from Aitor Karanka,
ending a 16-match winless run in the Premier
League in the process.
While Boro are now just six points adrift of safety,
they face Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool
in their remaining four matches.

Agnew insists they will approach each match as it
comes, though he acknowledged the magnitude of
Sunday's encounter with City at the Riverside.
"We were looking for a reaction after the
disappointment of Saturday and no better way to
get it than against our north-east rivals," he told
Sky Sports.
"Second half we did defend a little deeper than I
would've liked, but you saw the fighting spirit and
determination. Sometimes if you show qualities like
that then obviously it's a different way of winning.
"There's three points and it closes the gap again.
We just prepare now for a massive game on
Sunday.
"That's why we're in the Premier League, to
compete against the biggest teams. We have
Manchester City coming up and that's a game we
look forward to."