David Moyes has urged his close-knit squad to battle through the festive fixtures.
The 53-year-old Scot returns to former club Manchester United on Boxing Day for the first time since departing, as Sunderland look to continue their resurgence at the Theatre of Dreams.
With a crucial 12 points collected from just seven Premier League matches, the Black Cats have clawed their way to within a point of 17th place Crystal Palace.
The Lads’ most recent victory came last time out as they produced a solid display to edge past Watford at the Stadium of Light 1-0, and now Moyes is keen for his players to take that battling spirit to grind results out with them to Manchester.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the former United manager called on his players to keep working for one another as the fixtures begin to come thick and fast.
“We have to use everything we have got,” he said.
“We got a really good reaction from the players and more importantly it was a reaction that shows we are going to try and fight our way out of it.
“We didn’t play particularly well but we did enough to get a result and for us at the moment that’s what really matters.
“We have got to monitor fitness levels because the numbers mean we have got to.
“Most clubs will be doing the same this year to make sure they can get the players out on the pitch in the best condition they can be,” he continued.
“We are now competing and we have got ourselves a few victories. It won’t be enough to keep us up at the moment but we have got to keep ploughing away at it.
“We have got four wins and we have got to keep picking points up as we go along and the next game against Manchester United is a tough one.”
