Sunderland AFC: Now is the time to salute Di Canio

 

Romilly Evans looks at Sunderland's rapid reversal in fortune since the Italian's arrival and thinks they're safe

 

If Harry Redknapp is to be believed - and with Harry, that usually depends on whom you ask - Saturday provided a defining moment in the race for Premier League  survival.

 

Back at the beginning of March, Redknapp said that he would "take 37 points and walk away" in QPR's bid to retain their top-flight status for next season. Seeing the  wretched way in which things have panned out for the Super Hoops subsequently, I'm sure he stands by that prediction. And if it holds true, the weekend saw four clubs  who were facing the gaping black hole of relegation consign that ominous threat to their wing mirrors.

 

Newcastle, Norwich, Stoke and Sunderland all secured crucial results that put them on or beyond Harry's pivotal points tally. And with Rangers and their hooped hombres  at Reading trapped in the seventh circle of hell, the last spot in the basement battle now appears to rest between two teams.

 

One minute at least six sides were looking warily back over their shoulder. The next, only Wigan and Aston Villa are concerned with when the music will stop in this  game of "pass the parcel bomb" for that final relegation place. How fickle fate can fluctuate.

 

Few clubs have turned around their fortunes faster than Sunderland in the past week. Two huge wins - one in the Tyne-Wear derby, the latest against highflying Everton  - have coaxed the Black Cats back from the brink. Both those victories, of course, have been masterminded by their new field marshal, Paolo Di Canio.

 

The Italian's appointment was a huge gamble for club chairman Ellis Short. He sacked a media darling in Martin O'Neill and replaced him with a Mediterranean firebrand.  He gave up on statesmanlike experience and rolled the dice on impassioned potential. Ellis threw a double and instead of facing a stretch in the slammer, it turns out  Sunderland were just visiting. The Black Cats are now 32.0 in Betfair's relegation market.

 

Di Canio is certainly a polarising force. He always has been. Swept to power amid a political storm over his apparent attachment to the former Italian dictator  Mussolini, the 44-year-old has since weathered his critics and let his players do the talking. After guiding Sunderland to their first Tyneside triumph in 13 years -  and their biggest win at Newcastle in 34 years - Di Canio chose to shun the procession on his Stadium of Light unveiling. Instead, he emerged late from the tunnel and  quietly exchanged formalities with Toffees boss, David Moyes.

 

Hardly the manipulative fanfare cynics might've expected. Even his Roman salute has been shelved in favour of a friendlier greeting in victory to all four corners of  his new home ground. Now the real salutes are only coming from fans and press alike. In fact, a dark black suit is about as close as Di Canio is coming to fascistic  attire.

 

Before then, though, Paolo should enjoy his role as the latest football fashionista who doesn't follow the trends. He has instilled belief where there was doubt in a  side which hadn't won in nine Premier League matches before last week. It's a turnaround eloquently personified by Adam Johnson. The winger's recent rebirth in terms  of both goals and endeavour is a sight to behold. Perhaps AJ has finally found a manager who can bring the best out in him. Maybe even justify the £10m that O'Neill  splashed out on him when Sunderland were playing ugly and losing ugly.

 

The Northern Irishman's tired tenure is gone and quickly forgotten. The Italian's reign already looks as inspired as it was timely. Out with old and in with the new.  It seems that even applies to the dressing room jukebox, which now reverberates to Sex On Fire after every win. It could be a theme song to Di Canio's career. And  Sunderland have readily picked up the beat.

 

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