Phil Parkinson believes Sunderland’s promotion charge is gathering pace ahead of Wycombe Wanderers’ visit to the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats play at home for the second successive Saturday, in search of another important three points as the race for promotion continues.
Currently on a five-game unbeaten run, Parkinson knows the significance of a win this weekend, with many sides suffering from indifferent form that’s meant the lads sit just one point outside of the top six.
While t able-toppers Wycombe are four games without a win themselves, the Sunderland manager still believes the Chairboys will provide a stern test but has called for his players to play with the same intensity and energy that saw them brush Lincoln City aside in just 10 first-half minutes last weekend.
“I feel momentum is building with the team and the squad,” he said.
“The work ethic required is getting there and we have got to maintain that and improve on it.
“There are always things going on behind the scenes, but our focus has to be on what goes on, on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
“We have got some good footballers, but we have been stressing to the lads about the importance in the other side of the game.
“When you don’t have the ball, you have got to close down quickly and make it difficult for the opposition to play.
“We did that against Lincoln City and in our last few games, now we have got to build on that.”
“I have been pleased with the progress made over Christmas,” he continued.
“We have to be a difficult team to break down when we don’t have the ball.
“When we do have it, we have got to make sure we have movement and try to move it quickly and utilise the full size of the pitch.”
