Alex Neil is not keen on the 'seven cup finals' analogy to describe Sunderland's run-in - but insists he and his players fully understand the importance of each game between now and the end of the season. The Black Cats take on Gillingham at the Stadium of Light tomorrow in the first of seven games which will determine whether the Wearsiders secure a top six finish and a place in the play-offs.
They are one of seven teams with a realistic chance of booking one of the four play-off spots, and with that kind of fierce competition there is little margin for error. Neil says the 'cup final' cliche is inaccurate because these final seven games are not one-off events, however he understands the logic.
"It's not a one-off," he said of tomorrow's game. "After this, we've got six more and then, potentially, if we make the play-offs you could have another three after that.
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"The simple fact is that the lads understand the importance of the games. The one thing that doesn't get lost on you when you work for Sunderland is the importance of every match.
"I've already been reminded of it about six times today! It's not something you can avoid at any point.
"I get it, I understand, and we'll do our utmost to win the game."
Seventh-placed Sunderland go into the game against Gillingham on the back of a six-match unbeaten run, while the Gills are not yet safe from relegation despite dragging themselves out of the bottom four since new boss Neil Harris took charge at the end of January. Neil said: "I think there has been a fundamental change in them since Neil Harris came in.
"I've probably watched about five of their games, either on video or live, and they are a difficult team to beat. I've got an expectation of how I think they'll play, but equally when teams come to the Stadium of Light they do alter it much more than they otherwise would - that's the simple nature of the beast when they come to the Stadium of Light.
"I don't think there will be many variations from Neil's team. I think he has found a system and a process that has worked for them and that has made them very competitive, they don't concede a lot of goals, they are dangerous in transition, and from dead balls, and set-plays and throw-ins and things like that, and they are hard to break down.
"I would fully anticipate that they will go down a very similar route when they come here."
Sunderland were held to a goalless draw by Lincoln at Sincil Bank in their last outing a fortnight ago in a match they should have won, but prior to that had won back-to-back home games against Fleetwood and Crewe although they made hard work of it in both those encounters on Wearside. Neil knows the Black Cats need to start well tomorrow, and he said: "In terms of controlling what happens with the crowd, that is determined by actions within the game.
"It's making sure you start on the front foot, that your intent is good, your passing is good, everything is nice and crisp, that you win challenges and come out with the ball. We do have conversations behind the scenes about how we create the kind of atmosphere that is going to be beneficial to us, and equally that is intimidating for opponents coming to the Stadium of Light.
"We're all trying to band together and push towards our end goal which is to get as many wins as possible between now and the end of the season. I do think it will be dictated by form, as much as by anything else. It will be dictated by performance.
"If we can get the performances right and we get the results right, naturally everyone will be buoyant and positive coming to the games."
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