Leadbitter looking for response

Midfielder wants Black Cats to stay focused

Last updated: 17th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Leadbitter looking for response

Leadbitter: Keen to bounce back

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Grant Leadbitter has told his Sunderland team-mates not to let pressure affect their playing style.

The Black Cats have failed to win any of their last four matches and are just three points above the relegation zone after losing 2-1 to Wigan at the weekend.

Leadbitter is confident Sunderland can pull clear of trouble and possibly finish in the top half of the table.

However, he does not believe that will happen if the players become so tense that they start looking to send long balls forward too early.

"We have got to pick ourselves up from the Wigan game," Leadbitter told the Sunderland Echo.

"We were frustrated that we were losing but we should still play our football and sometimes you feel pressure to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and that does not work.

"We have to keep the ball and play football.

"We have a top-half Premier League squad here and we have to go to Manchester City and West Ham now and get something - I'm confident we can do that."

Passionate

Ricky Sbragia bemoaned a poor performance following the home defeat to Wigan and Leadbitter can understand why the supporters were also frustrated.

He explained: "The fans are passionate about football and don't like losing, and we don't like losing.

"We want to do well for Sunderland Football Club.

"The dressing room was down on Saturday but we have to pick ourselves up."