Advocaat upbeat on survival

The 67-year-old, who replaced Gus Poyet for the final nine games of the season on Tuesday, has spent the last three days working with his players ahead of Saturday's trip to West Ham.

With a point separating them from the bottomthree, the Dutchman faces a tough task and he told the club's website: "We have nine games to go and are still a point ahead, so we have everything in our own hands.

"There is enough quality in this squad to stay up. We have a difficultprogramme, as do the other teams, but it's all up to us and I have a goodfeeling about it."

The hugely experienced Advocaat held a team meeting on Thursday and while hismessage was positive, he pulled no punches as he addressed the consequences offailure and life in the Championship.

He added: "You can't throw everything in, but I have talked with someindividuals and the team together. We had a team meeting.

"Keeping this team in the league is the most important thing. As I said to the players, it's quite simple. This is a big, big club - do you want to play in the other league?

"With this club, this stadium, you cannot play in the lower league. I thinkthey realise how important it is."

It has proved to be a whirlwind week for the much-travelled Dutchman, whoarrived on Wearside at sporting director Lee Congerton's invitation within hoursof Poyet's departure on Monday, and took his first training session thefollowing morning.

He said: "So far everything is going the right way and it's been a short week.It started with the call from Lee on Monday, a late afternoon flight to havediscussions and we stayed after that.

"We have already had a lot of talking with the players, and the trainingsessions. The atmosphere is very positive - but in football it is all aboutresults.

"The most positive thing is that the players look bright. But if you don't getresults, then that is not so important."