Phil Parkinson has admitted his players need to be more composed in their approach at Blackpool on Saturday.
Sunderland head to Bloomfield Road in search of claiming an important three points after a run of four games without a win.
With just eight games now remaining in the Sky Bet League One season, time is running out as the pressure continues to crank up week by week.
Speaking to safc.com after Tuesday’s frustrating loss at Bristol Rovers, Parkinson believes his players need to show a cooler edge to their game after letting emotion rule their play of late.
“It’s very important we respond at the weekend,” he said.
“Football is all about performance levels. We want to win but we can’t be so desperate to win that we forget what we have got to do to get that victory.
“I thought we were too frenetic at Bristol. I spoke to the lads after the Portsmouth game where we were caught arguing with the referee and we let decisions affect us.
“We have got to be cooler and calmer than that and it was disappointing that we let it affect us again,” he continued.
“There is always going to be a pressure and a tension at every club. The only pressure from me to the players is to make sure we play well.
“I want us to perform to the best of our ability and we didn’t do that at Bristol.”
