SAM ALLARDYCE thinks he has finally had the level of performance and sort of result to help convince Sunderland’s players that they can turn things around on Wearside, with skipper John O’Shea revealing how the dressing room are in the process of being won over.

The Black Cats returned from London on Monday night satisfied with an effective night’s work which claimed a hard-earned three points against Alan Pardew’s team.

It is hoped the victory, only the second of the season and both under Allardyce, will help instil greater belief going into today’s visit of Stoke City to the Stadium of Light that the new manager’s methods can steer Sunderland away from relegation trouble.

Allardyce believes the greatest foundation is to make Sunderland a tighter unit at the back and to stop leaking goals, which is why the display at Selhurst Park was so satisfying from a coaching point of view; having successfully asked a five-man defence to be assisted by a solid three-man midfield.

O’Shea, who returned to the starting line-up after injury for the first time since hobbling off against Newcastle in October, said: “The manager’s said he believes we can stay up and that gives you a lot of confidence, hearing that. Look, he’s been there and done it. He’s very experienced.

“He spoke to us after the Palace game about understanding and listening to him, at the right times for certain games in certain situations.

“He got the three points on Monday night and hopefully we can look forward to many more. It’s important we take this and build on it, and go from here and start picking up points more regularly.

“This is only the beginning, we can’t think any different to that. We’re still in the relegation zone so we know there’s still a long way for us to go.”

O’Shea is desperate to end the season as a Premier League player, the disappointment of a relegation would dampen the excitement of appearing for the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016.

Celebrations in Dublin were huge during the last international break, when O’Shea was part of Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad which secured a place in the finals in France by defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-offs.

“It’s been a good couple of weeks for Ireland, I’m delighted. For everyone, the players, the management and staff behind it all and, of course, the fans,” he said.

“It started two-and-a-half years ago so to get there, finally, through the play-offs is extra sweet. You look forward to the draw now, it’s great for everybody, great for the country, especially with Northern Ireland, Wales and England getting there as well.

“That’s to look forward to but we have to put that on the back-burner now, totally. Everyone involved in the (Ireland) squad has to concentrate on their club career, playing and performing for your club, and if you’re not in that team make sure you try to do something about it because once next summer comes round we need everybody fit and firing to give the manager (Martin O’Neill) plenty of options.”

O’Shea will have turned 35 by the time he makes an appearance for his country in the France finals, and he would love to have ensured Sunderland are assured of a Premier League spot long before that – unlike his previous seasons with the club.

The former Manchester United defender thinks the run up to the turn of the year could be pivotal in building the sort of confidence required to leapfrog the teams above them and stay out of the bottom three for the longer term; with two home dates with Stoke and Watford part of a run also including trips to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

O’Shea said: “Obviously I’m an experienced player, and the manager’s said he needs his experienced players to step up. I was out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury but thankfully that’s all cleared up, and hopefully we can go on now.

“We’ve got a tough game against Stoke, who’ve just had a fantastic away win. I know plenty of their players and they’ve had a great win down at Southampton so they’ll be coming to the Stadium of Light full of confidence, but we’ll be confident too.

“This is a critical period, that’s always been the case with lots of games coming up. We have to make sure, next game at home, clean sheet and we know we’ll get chances, and hopefully that’ll bring us the three points.”