Sunderland must keep believing despite leaving themselves with a ‘huge’ mountain to climb, according to Ashley Fletcher.
The Black Cats are six points adrift of safety with four Sky Bet Championship games remaining, and they must string together a winning run, starting with six points from their next two games against Reading and Burton Albion.
Conceding late at Elland Road, and then later against Norwich City on Tuesday, left Chris Coleman and his troops immensely frustrated, but there is no time to dwell.
And speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Madejski Stadium, Fletcher urged his team-mates to pick themselves up and go again.
“We were minutes away from taking three points, but didn’t,” said the striker.
“It’s hugely frustrating, but the manager came in at the end and said we’ve got to somehow keep believing.”
He continued: “We’re aware that we’ve left ourselves with a huge mountain to climb, and coming in and seeing the other results just added insult to injury really.
“We played well against Leeds and were unlucky not to take the three points there, and then the same thing has happened against Norwich.
“The games are running out, it was a point gained, although it didn’t really feel like that at the time.
“You have to stay positive, that’s the attitude that all the staff and players have.”