Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has insisted that the team cannot rely on their opponents to help their survival bid in the Premier League.
The Black Cats are currently 19th in the league table, just one point adrift of safety.
On Tuesday the North-East outfit welcome Crystal Palace, who are five places above them, to the Stadium of Light.
"If the season finishes now, we are relegated, so you have got to get to 38 points or better, it's as simple as that," Allardyce told reporters in Monday's press conference.
"It doesn't matter what anybody else does, you have got to go and do it yourself. We have got to pick up five victories if we can in 11 minimum, and that's 38 points in the hope that 38 points is going to be enough again this year."
Allardyce returned to his former club West Ham United at the weekend, but it was not a pleasant reunion as Sunderland suffered a 1-0 defeat at Upton Park.
Danielle Joynson
