Sunderland’s performance and attitude levels can't slip between now and the end of the campaign, according to Lee Cattermole.
The Black Cats have put in a real shift over the last five games, but although they’ve lost just once during that spell, they’ve also been restricted to six points.
With three games remaining in the Sky Bet Championship, the Lads face a real scrap to retain their second-tier status with games against Burton Albion, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers set to decide their fate.
And although recent performances have warranted more, Cattermole urged his team-mates to produce more of the same while cutting out costly errors.
“The performance, attitude and willingness from the boys in the last five games has been incredible,” said the midfielder.
“We wish we could turn the clock back and this be October, but it’s not and we have to keep going out and performing because crazy things happen in football.”
He continued: “We dominated the game [at Reading] but it’s the same old story, we can’t stop conceding sloppy goals, soft goals, or keep clean sheets and that punishes you.
“Like I’ll say again, the performance and the attitude from the players in the last five games is where it needs to be, especially playing for Sunderland.
“You need to show that desire and that commitment. Don’t hide, work hard and keep going.
“We have to go again.”