Papy Djilobodji has called for focus ahead of Sunderland’s trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday.
The Black Cats stumbled to a 3-0 defeat on Monday evening as Everton sealed three points on Wearside, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom for David Moyes’ side who produced an encouraging first-half display.
Sunday’s opponents, Tottenham Hotspur, also tasted defeat last time out losing to Monaco in a UEFA Champions League tie at Wembley Stadium, but they were sharp as a tac in their last league outing breezing past Stoke City 4-0.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to the capital, Djilobodji urged his team-mates to build on a positive 45 minutes against the Toffees.
“We put in a really good first-half performance against Everton but in the second we lost our focus,” said Djilobodji. “What we need to do this weekend is produce a similar performance to the first half against Everton but until the final whistle.
“If we can perform like that I think we will win games but we need to put a shift in and keep our concentration."
He continued: “It is a great pleasure to go and play against great teams like Tottenham Hotspur but when you do face them you know if you give them one chance they will bury it.
“We need to be focussed for the full 90 minutes but I believe, as do the squad, that we can go to White Hart Lane and win the game, so we’re training hard and we want to show what we can do.
“The manager is also working very hard with us and he’s giving us the confidence to go out there and get three points for the fans, the staff and ourselves.”
DAFABET
Tottenham v Sunderland
Jermain Defoe to score two or more goals NOW 28/1 (was 22/1)
Duncan Watmore to score the first goal NOW 20/1 (was 16/1)
Sunderland to win half-time/ full-time NOW 20/1 (was 16/1)
Sunderland to win and over 2.5 goals NOW 20/1 (was 16/1)
