Jack Ross believes there’s no more pressure on the shoulders of his players going into this weekend than usual.
Sunderland entertain Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, kick-off 12:30pm, looking to record their first Sky Bet League One win of the season.
Tuesday’s 3-1 win in the Carabao Cup at Accrington Stanley brought a good feeling after successive draws against Oxford United and Ipswich Town in the league.
But as promotion rivals Portsmouth head to the north east for the first meeting of the season, – after five mouth-watering battles last term – Ross has played down the significance of Saturday and instead called for everyone to be united if the club are to achieve success this season.
"I have said often enough that every game is a must win,” he said. “That is the expectancy on everybody's shoulders at the club.
"The hangover from last season - I have said often enough that nothing we can do can affect what happened. So those who continually harp back to losing an injury-time goal at Wembley does not help us move forward.
"It does not help us with what we have to achieve this season and we want to win the game on Saturday.
"We know the importance of winning matches regularly, particularly at home. Irrespective of who the opponent is, the time of the season, the importance of winning the game is never going to change. It should always have equal importance."
"The only way you ever achieve success collectively as a club is if you are all on the same page.
"That starts within the confines of the training ground because you need that togetherness with players and staff and everybody who works within the club.
"I would like to think we have created a culture whereby the staff around the club feel as if they are invested in what we do.
"That extends to the fanbase. I have said it often enough that it is a fanbase that is incredibly loyal, committed, and passionate.
"Because of that it is desperate for success and wants the club back at a level it belongs. That desperation for success can manifest itself in different ways but ultimately, we need a collective to have any success.
"I feel like we have made big strides in that but the simplest way to achieve that is to win football matches every week.
"The responsibility then ultimately falls on me as manager. You can debate it but that is the nuts and bolts of it."
