He had this to say "They are on a high - they are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and they are pushing back up the league so we face another difficult game.
"But if the players show the spirit and togetherness they showed against Reading we can get a result there. I thought they gave their all and you can't ask for anymore than that."
Sunderland were beaten 3-1 at Soke earlier this season and the lads will be looking for a bit of revenge in this game.
If Sunderland claim all three points, then there's a possibility that they can move into third place depending on goal difference.
There's a bit of cap between second and third, but if Sunderland win their games in hand, one of them being Norwich, then we sit three points behind the current leaders.
It's make or break time!
Can Sunderland reach the FA Cup final, qualify for Europe and win promtion back to the Premiership all in one season? If so, this could go down in history as one of the greatest seasons of all time and who could deny us that joy, we're long over due some!
I can't see Stoke getting anything from this game. If Stoke are full of confidence, then the Mackems must be brimming. Sunderland to take all the points in my 2-0 prediction.