Monday, 31st March, 2014
West Ham United winger Stewart Downing has played down his Sunderland links as a player and would love to beat them and pile even more pressure on the Black Cats tonight.
Downing, who played for Sunderland during a loan spell from Middlesbrough in the 2003/04 season, insists that his links with the north east club have no bearing now and his allegiance lies with the Hammers.
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Downing is relishing the prospect of returning to the Stadium of Light and piling even more pressure on Gus Poyet’s men.
"It will be good going back up there and it's a big game for us”, Downing told his club’s official site.
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"They need points as well desperately and I think, if we can get a win, that would deflate them a little bit.”
Downing understands that for the fans of north east football, Sunderland being relegated would be disheartening, but he has little sympathy towards the club and blames the performance of the side during the course of the season for their current plight.
"Obviously for the north east it would not be good if they go down, but I'm at West Ham now and my priority is that we stay in this league. There will be no sentiment.
“I had a loan spell there and it's a great club but they're in that situation because of their performances over the season. We'll be looking to win the game.”
Downing will face his former side as part of the West Ham team that takes on Sunderland in the Premier League tonight.
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