Former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has stated that it is "no coincidence" that the team have started to pick up clean sheets since Costel Pantilimon broke into the side.

The Romanian goalkeeper helped the Black Cats to record back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season by keeping league leaders Chelsea at bay on Saturday evening.

"I am a big fan of Pantilimon – he looks the part. He's a giant of a man and it's no surprise they've started keeping clean sheets with him," Quinn told the Sunderland Echo.

"He got another at the weekend and that is no coincidence with him around. The defence looks to have now been sorted out and Pantilimon has boosted that."

Pantilimon moved to Sunderland from Manchester City during the summer.