Assistant manager Steve Parkin has thrown the gauntlet down and challenged his players to produce a performance that gets the job done this evening.
Sunderland head to Scunthorpe United in the Leasing.com Trophy needing to win inside 90 minutes to secure their passage through to the knockout stages.
Defeat last time out in the competition to Leicester City’s second string has left their hopes in the balance, but Parkin has revealed there’s a determined mindset in the group to ensure they put to bed a frustrating run of results.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the assistant boss also admitted the plan for tonight is simple – win.
“We’ll have a positive approach,” he said.
"The lads have trained well this morning. They realise they let one slip on Saturday.
"We know what we have got to do, we know who we are playing against and we know the situation in terms of the competition, so we have got to go there and win - it is as simple as that."
He continued: “The further you go in the competition, the better it becomes because of the carrot of Wembley at the end of it.
"The key for us is to produce a performance that lasts for 90 minutes.
"If we perform for 90 minutes that gives us a great opportunity to progress."
