Lee Cattermole is refusing to give up ahead of Sunderland’s crunch-match against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
The stakes are simple heading into Saturday’s game – and indeed the remainder of the season – with the Black Cats needing a swift return to winning ways against the Cherries.
David Moyes’ side currently sit 12 points from safety with five Premier League games remaining, but Cattermole insists the Black Cats won’t stop fighting.
And speaking to safc.com, he urged his team-mates to pick themselves up and go again.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and we need to pick ourselves up,” said Cattermole.
“We have to go again – recover and then train on Friday – because we have a big game at home on Saturday against Bournemouth.”
He continued: “We’ve been in this position every year and that’s tough as a player, but there’s still a lot of fight in us.
“We have to try and lead the boys the best we can; I’ve been back in the team for the last few games and we’re coming off thinking, ‘how have we lost that game’.
“It’s difficult but as a senior player in the team, alongside John [O’Shea], JD and people like that, we need to keep pushing the boys and make sure we carry ourselves in the right manner.”