Former 'Black Cats' defender Danny Higginbotham has told Sunderland players that they need to stop hiding if they are to avoid sliding further down in English football.
Speaking on 'Sky Sports', Higginbotham said it's up to Simon Grayson to get the side going again after its slump.
"I think the expectation levels are huge," said Higginbotham. "The supporters have been down for so long fighting at the bottom of the Premier League, and home form is a big issue as well.
"We know Grayson has gone in there and he'll want to look forward not back, but it's not as simple as that. You need to start getting wins, but it's very difficult when you've been in a slump. They've got to handle the pressure.
"The supporters just want to see a team that will battle against the opposition. We've all been in a dressing room where the team is struggling, but when you get out on the pitch you can't have three, four or five players hiding in situations. You need everyone pulling in the same direction."
"Winning is a habit and Sunderland are used to losing," he said. "It's hard but there's no quick fix, it's about training right and all trying to pull in the same direction.
"You can't look back but then you keep getting reminded about things like not winning at home since 2016. But that's when the resilience has to come in as a collective unit."