Si: I'm still learning
SIMON Mignolet refuses to get carried away with his bright start to life in England.
The Belgian goalkeeper kept Sunderland in the game against Manchester City with crucial saves before Darren Bent's injury-time penalty gave the side all three points.
That win came on Mignolet's 22nd birthday, but with Craig Gordon hoping to get the go-ahead next week to step up his training, the summer capture from Sint Truiden is taking nothing for granted.
He said: "To beat a team like Man City on your 22nd birthday is something special, and especially to do it with a good performance.
"Am I feeling at home in the Premier League? I think it is too early to say that.
"I have confidence in my own ability, and playing these games at the start of the season is already making me a better goalkeeper.
"But I know that Craig will be back soon, and my other target is to do my best to improve every time I play and train."
Mignolet had already made a pair of important first-half saves to deny City's Yaya Toure last weekend before pulling off a stunning reaction stop from Emanuel Adebayor's point-blank shot.
Manager Steve Bruce had spent the summer looking for an experienced goalkeeper after Gordon broke his arm in training, but Mignolet has so far proved his boss wrong and been an able deputy.
He said: "I have made a few saves and I am happy with that. To beat teams like Man City you need to have a bit of luck as well, and we got that.
"The save from Adebayor was just instinct, reflex. The lads told me afterwards who took the shot because everything happened so quickly, I didn't realise.
"That was one part of our luck, but I think we deserved it."
While everyone in the Black Cats' camp was delighted with Sunday's triumph, the challenge now is to repeat such high intensity performances against the lesser teams.
After the international break, Sunderland travel to Wigan a week on Saturday.
Mignolet said: "Everybody played a part in the win against City – everyone won their personal duel.
"You really have to battle to beat teams like City, but you have to battle like that in every game in the Premier League, I think.
"We're a good side, but we need to be concentrated every week 100 per cent.
"The City win was good for confidence, and now we hope we can take that forward next weekend at Wigan."
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Monday 21 May 2012
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