Interim coach Dick Advocaat insists everyone at Sunderland must stop feeling sorry for themselves, roll their sleeves up and get on with the job of avoiding relegation.
The Black Cats have now slipped into the dropzone due to Leicester City’s late-season revival and they have 30 points from 33 games played.
It is anyone’s guess as to how many they might need to survive but three points against Southampton on Saturday would be very welcome in the circumstances.
The Wearsiders have won just once in their last 10 top-flight games but picked up a point from a 1-1 draw with Stoke City last time out.
It has been a campaign to forget for the north-east outfit, with Gus Poyet unable to inspire his charges for the majority of the season and his successor also struggling to get results.
But, far from throwing in the towel and accepting relegation, the experienced tactician feels that it is time to dig deep and for the players that have got them into the mess to get them out of it.
“We have to do it with this squad and there is no reason to complain about what we do or don’t have,” he told the Echo. “We knew when we started here that this is the squad.”
Southampton, who can be backed at 2.00 to win the game at the Stadium of Light, have enjoyed an excellent season and flirted with the top four for a number of months.
Their form has tailed off slightly over the past few weeks, with only one win in four games, but they are a talented side and Advocaat will need his men to be at the top of the game if he is to get the better of fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman at the weekend.
Sunderland are priced at 4.33 to take the points with the draw trading at 3.20.
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