Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has claimed that the players are to blame for his side's poor form.
The Black Cats have won just one of their last nine league games, a run which has left them hovering just one place and one point above the relegation zone.
Their latest outing - a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Norwich City - raised the pressure on Martin O'Neill, but Larsson believes that it is the players who need to stand up and be counted.
"If you look at the squad, we shouldn't be in this situation we're in. But then you've got to realise we are and take responsibility for that and make sure we get out of it," Larsson told the Shields Gazette.
"It's us the players who are out there. We can't look at anyone else, we've got to sort it out. We've got to show we are that team that people expected us to be. We know we can, but saying it is one thing. We need to kick it into gear, it's as simple as that.
"I don't think anyone will stand up and say it's been a good start. We wanted to kick on this season, but we have had a disappointing start. We can't change things now. But we've got to keep working hard."
Sunderland's next match comes at home to Chelsea tomorrow, before they face Reading in a rearranged tie on Tuesday.
Barney Corkhill
