Sunderland have to forget about games in hand and concentrate on winning their own fixtures, according to Elliot Embleton.
The weekend win against Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light lifted the Black Cats back into the automatic promotion spots, with leaders Wigan ahead of them only on goal difference.
But the Latics have also played four fewer games than Sunderland, while third-placed Rotherham have two games in hand of the Black Cats and are just a single point behind them.
READ MORE: Sunderland's win against Portsmouth was a victory for pragmatism over philosophy
Sunderland cannot do anything about that, however, and Embleton says they must simply focus on winning their games and hope that their rivals drop points.
"You have to just win games and forget what everyone else is doing," said Embleton, who scored the winning goal against Pompey.
"If you get three points they add up and obviously you have to hope other teams slip up.
"If we just focus on ourselves and our performances, training and recovery right, I’m sure we’ll be up there at the end of the season."
Sunderland had picked up just two points from three games since the turn of the year going into the weekend, but their narrow win against Portsmouth has got them back on track.
Embleton said: "It wasn't the prettiest game but three points is three points against a good side so it's a positive result.
"Especially on the pitch - it isn't the best at the minute
"It doesn't really suit us but it's the same for both teams and you just have to adapt and you'll get positive results.
"You just have to dig in.
"Obviously we've had some unlucky results recently, so to get three points was good."
Embleton was sent off in Sunderland's win at Gillingham back in mid-October, but he returned to the starting XI in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Arsenal just before Christmas and has kept his place in all six league games since.
"Obviously, I got a red card sort of ten or 11 games in and then obviously it was just getting back up to speed with the games," he said.
"There were a few poor performances from myself in that but now I'm back in and showing what I can do."
Often he has played on the left with Alex Pritchard filling the number ten role, but Pritchard was absent against Portsmouth with a calf strain meaning Embleton moved into a central role and took on more of the creative burden.
He said: "We have been playing well together obviously apart from the Lincoln game where I think we had a poor night all round, I think we have had some good performances," he said.
"We have been playing well and scoring goals.
"It gives you confidence playing well together and training as well, things in training and getting on the same wavelength certainly helps.
"We had some good results around Christmas time and have performed well on the pitch.
"I have played in a number of positions, out wide and a bit deeper but I do like the number ten position.
"I can also play elsewhere, central midfield to get on the ball. I like creating more, playing higher up."
Embleton has linked up well with leading scorer Ross Stewart, but against Pompey Stewart provided the assist for the academy graduate.
Embleton said: "I love playing with Ross.
"He's always showing to feet and running in behind, he's a great player.
Up there with Leon [Dajaku] as well, he's got great quality on the ball so it worked quite well on Saturday."
The arrival of Patrick Roberts from Manchester City last week means there will be extra competition amongst the forwards for the remainder of the season, but Embleton sees his arrival as a positive rather than a threat.
He said: "I can't wait. He's been at some great clubs and hopefully we can hit the ground running and keep the run going."
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