GUS POYET wants his team to turn in a performance worthy of winning back the hearts and minds of frustrated Sunderland fans ahead of a huge game with Burnley at the Stadium of Light.

More than 45,000 tickets have been sold for the visit of the Clarets, who are a place below the Black Cats, and the vast majority will hope to see Sunderland stay out of the relegation zone.

Sunderland will be without midfielder Lee Cattermole and suspended Jack Rodwell for the game but otherwise he has no fresh injury problems.

Poyet, knowing his side are a point above the bottom three, just wants to see improvements in the final third and claims a win could be pivotal for the season.

He said: “During a special season you have big moments. There are months when you need to win certain games, so this is a massive game because of what we did in January and December.

“When we are all together it is easier, the fans are right to boo the team when we are doing terrible. If it is possible, even if we are rubbish, I ask for the fans to stay with us.

“We should not make it easier for them (Burnley). After that it is up to us. There is nobody to blame but us. This one is a very important game.

“This could be a turning point, where we get the special relationship back with the fans. There are so many things we need to do and winning at home is a great opportunity for us.”

Sunderland have won just one of their last 11 league games – winning one at home all season - so Poyet is well aware of the importance of putting on a show for the club’s fans.

He said: “It is up to us and that is the mentality that we want the team to have on Saturday, so I’m sure we’re going to be up for it and I would like to think we now have the opportunity to go and win three or four games in a row. It is an important week with an absolutely massive game on Saturday against Burnley.”