Di Canio: I've done nothing yet

Paolo Di Canio brushed aside the adulation heaped upon him in the wake of a famous derby victory to promise Sunderland fans he has done nothing yet.

The 44-year-old Italian took centre-stage at St James' Park as the side he inherited from Martin O'Neill just a fortnight ago breathed new life into its Barclays Premier League survival bid with a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over arch-rivals Newcastle.

It was their first win on Tyneside for 13 years and Di Canio said: "I haven't done anything yet - when one day we bring this club to the top of this league..."

He went on: "It means we don't exaggerate because this future is not an early future, but step by step. We have to keep this club in the Premier League and then we can talk about something different.

"Obviously, I enjoyed it, but the players were heroes, they were warriors.

"Thanks to them, thanks to the fans, thanks to the staff. Di Canio is the last in this group. They are the main protagonists, it is important that they keep going and then we are going to get out of this situation."

A famous victory - Sunderland's biggest at St James' since Gary Rowell's hat-trick helped to secure a 4-1 win in February 1979 - ended a run of nine league games without success and lifted the Black Cats three points clear of the relegation zone with five matches still to play.

Di Canio will hope it provides his side with the impetus to push further up the table, but with Champions League-chasing Everton due at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, he knows his players cannot take anything for granted.

He said: "They can smile, dance in the dressing room and then once we get back home, recover the energy because it's only a small step.

"It's a big result, a big step in terms of result for the club's history, for what it means for the fans. But in terms of points, it is only a small, but very good step to maintain this club in the Premier League."