Jack Ross is refusing to get drawn into focusing on what the teams around Sunderland are doing.
The Black Cats head to the Wham Stadium this Saturday for their first meeting against Accrington Stanley in over 100 years.
After stretching their unbeaten run to 16 matches in midweek following their victory over Notts County in the Checkatrade Trophy, Ross has admitted he isn’t focused on what teams around Sunderland are he continues to plot a way to the summit of Sky Bet League One.
Speaking at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, the Scot also looked ahead to a busy schedule which sees the Black Cats face nine games in all competitions throughout December.
“I do (look at other results), but not get worried about,” he said.
“The only thing we can ever effect is our own results and if we continue to do that in the manner that we have done to this stage and we keep replicating that points per game or close to that, we’re going to have a really good chance of getting promotion regardless of what other teams do.
“So, yes, I’ll look, but it’s not really at the forefront of my mind when a game finish.
“I think that at the moment we know that as long as we continue to control what we’re doing and effect what we’re doing, then we’ll be ok.
“Where we’ve came from in the last couple of years and where Accrington have come from means that we’re meeting in that middle point.
“A new environment for us to go into, but against a team that has performed well in League One, considering they’ve only just been promoted.”
He continued: “More excited about it than anything else, I think we all are as a club and I’m sure the supporters will be as well.”
