David Moyes felt Sunderland's players showed a positive response in the defeat at Arsenal.
The Black Cats were well beaten at home by Swansea in their previous outing, but Moyes was more pleased with the display against the Gunners.
“We can put our name to that performance,” he told safc.com after the game.
“We didn't like Saturday's – the players were well aware of that and they didn't like [the performance] either.
“Tonight we showed a lot of character and a great deal of effort. We performed in a good way which gave us a chance.
“We made some good chances, but we just can't seem to get that first goal in the games and tonight we had one or two opportunities to do that.
“As a professional in any walk of life you have to bounce back and show what you can do, and I thought the players did that tonight.”
Arsenal's win ensures the Gunners will take the race for a top-four spot to the final day and Moyes admitted Arsene Wenger's men were the better side on the night.
Nonetheless, he remained positive.
“We were ultimately outclassed by the better team. Arsenal are probably one of the division's form teams at this moment in time.
“We contained them for long periods, made some chances and passed the ball well when we got it tonight, so there were lots of good things.”
He added: “The players deserved the applause they got at the end – the performance merited it.”
Moyes also reserved praise for Jordan Pickford, who made a string of brilliant saves in another top-drawer display.
“Jordan made some wonder saves at different times,” he said. “Good on him – everyone who follows Sunderland knows just how good he is.”
