Former Norwich City and Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has said if he had the choice he would prefer to see City stay in the Barclays Premier League over the Black Cats.

City dropped below their north east relegation rivals on Tuesday night and, when asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme who would he choose to save out of Norwich or Sunderland, the Republic of Ireland boss came out in support of Alex Neil's side.

'I think the answer would be down in Norfolk,' said the 64-year-old.

'I played at Norwich City in two little spells and I enjoyed it immensely.

'Although I only had a few months there as a manager, because the chairman and I didn't see eye to eye at the time, I have got a real soft spot for them which is remarkable when my time as a boy was Sunderland.'

• You can read Alex Neil's reaction to last night's defeat to Chelsea here