Sam Allardyce: Sunderland 'magnificent' as they near Premier League safety

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce says it took a "magnificent" team effort to beat Chelsea and move to within one win of Premier League safety.

The Black Cats scored two goals in three minutes as they twice hit back to earn a victory on Saturday that took them out of the relegation zone.

"The immense character of the team has shown through," Allardyce told BBC Newcastle.

"The recovery was magnificent. Everybody has played their part."

Wahbi Khazri cancelled out Diego Costa's opener for Chelsea, only for the Londoners to go ahead again in first-half stoppage time.

But Fabio Borini beat Thibaut Courtois with a deflected shot with 23 minutes remaining, before Jermain Defoe swivelled to score a vital winner.

"You often wonder about the characters of your players," said 61-year-old Allardyce.

"For the first time this season we've recovered from two blows by going behind twice."

Having been seven points adrift of safety at the turn of the year, Sunderland have lost only four of their 17 league games.

They are now 17th in the table, one point and one place above Newcastle, who have only one game remaining against Tottenham.

Norwich City, who also have two games left, are a further three points behind.

Sunderland face Everton on Wednesday at the Stadium of Light, when a win will guarantee their Premier League status.

"It gives us our destiny in our own hands now," Allardyce said.

"Hopefully we can perform and be as clinical in front of goal as we were [against Chelsea]."