Anton will show no mercy on Saturday
Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand has said he is adamant there will be no sentiment for former club West Ham United in Saturday’s encounter.
The Hammers are in danger of relegation this season but Ferdinand says there will be no mercy for his boyhood team.
“I am a professional, I’m going there to do a job. West Ham fans understand that,” Ferdinand told BBC Newcastle.
“The Sunderland fans are travelling there in vast numbers and I owe it to them to play my heart out.”
Ferdinand began his career with the East London club, making 163 appearances in all competitions having made his full debut for the club against Preston in August 2003.
Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham side are a point above the relegation places with just five games to play, but Hull City who lie a place below them have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Sunderland’s own hopes of avoiding the drop were handed a huge boost with last weekend’s 3-1 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats have an 11-point gap between themselves and the bottom three in the Premier League.
Ferdinand, who has endured relegation before with West Ham, believes no player can relax until safety is mathematically secured, and is eyeing a positive end to a mixed campaign at the Stadium of Light.
“You’re not safe until the points say you are, until the three teams have that R next to their name, but the good thing is we’re looking upwards and not downwards at the moment,” Ferdinand added.
“We need to make sure we finish the season strongly and if we do, then it’s been a good season considering the bad period we had.”
