Sunderland's players must 'find something within themselves' to bring to an end the club's disastrous run of one win in eight games, according to interim head coach Mike Dodds.
The Black Cats' automatic promotion hopes are in tatters after a catastrophic start to 2022, with tonight's 2-1 embarrassment at Cheltenham the club's third successive defeat against modest opposition.
It came on the back of the 6-0 humbling at Bolton which made it one win in six games and cost head coach Lee Johnson his job, and since he went and Dodds was put in temporary charge the club has lost at home to basement side Doncaster Rovers and now at Cheltenham, another side in the lower reaches of League One.
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Dodds admits that this slump cannot continue, after seeing his side squander a lead to lose at Whaddon Road.
"We tried to change the shape on Saturday [against Doncaster] which didn't work, today we tried to make changes to freshen it up, and for a while we looked better, more decisive, aggressive," said Dodds, who saw Alex Pritchard give his side the lead with a brilliant free-kick before the turnaround.
"But you can't concede those two goals.
"The reality is it's one win in eight now.
"I will take the responsibility for the last two results because I have been the captain of the ship for that time, but it was one win in six before that.
"So the players have got to find something within themselves, because this cannot continue.
"They've got to go to Wimbledon [on Saturday] and win, that's the harsh reality.
"In terms of the preparation, I can't knock the players.
"But it's one win in eight, so confidence is a huge issue here and they've got to find something within themselves.
"They can't feel sorry for themselves, they've got to go and win."
Dodds and fellow U23 coach Michael Proctor have been put in charge while owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, both of whom were at Cheltenham, search for a new head coach.
At this stage there is no timescale on a replacement, and Dodds will continue to take the team until told otherwise.
Dodds said: "I'm working day to day, I'm just waiting for the call.
"The week is planned out, whether it'll be me [taking training] or someone else, that's not down to me.
"The lead up to both games [Doncaster and Cheltenham] has been meticulous. I wouldn't have changed much about that.
"Would I have changed the line-ups, maybe. I'll have to reflect on that.
"I'm not going to abandon them.
"It is a baptism of fire for me, I've gone from the U18s and U23s to over 39,000.
"It's another poor result tonight. I have been the captain of the ship so I will take responsibility for it.
"I won't abandon the players, they are good guys, but they have to roll their sleeves up now and find something within themselves.
"One win in eight is nowhere near acceptable for this club."
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