Sunderland manager Jack Ross won't allow anyone at the club to feel sorry for themselves heading into the final three games of the season.
While the initiative may have been snatched from the Black Cats following their 1-1 draw at Peterborough, the League One promotion race is still an incredibly tight affair.
Sunderland won't be able to catch second-placed Barnsley if the Tykes win their final two games, but they head into Saturday's huge Stadium of Light clash with Portsmouth knowing they must win their remaining matches to ensure they take advantage of any slip ups from those ahead of them.
And while Ross was frustrated to head back north with only one point for their efforts at Peterborough, he insists his players will be re-energised and ready to go on Saturday.
“It’s quiet and everyone is frustrated having put so much into the game," he told safc.com
“To get yourself ahead so late on and then concede in the manner we did is really frustrating and a hard one to take.
“We have put a lot into this season and we want to get our rewards for it.
“At this stage, we have two choices. We can either feel sorry for ourselves or we can regroup and go again."
Sunderland have failed to beat Portsmouth twice already this season, and will be itching to set the record straight on Saturday.
They lost the league meeting at Fratton Park 3-1 in December following Glenn Loovens' red card, with the scores still at 0-0.
And Pompey emerged victorious from a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley, with the game finishing 2-2 after extra-time.
Victory over Portsmouth and then at Fleetwood in midweek will mean the Black Cats head into the final weekend of the season with a chance of claiming second spot, no matter what Barnsley do at home to Barnsley on Saturday.
And that will be a key motivating factor.
“The lads will be ready to go on Saturday because we have got another big game," Ross added.
"We came into this block of five games looking to win every single one.
“We knew if we did that then it would take us to where we wanted.
“Unfortunately, we’ve dropped two on the road and now it’s been taken out of our hands. All we can do is win our remaining three and see where it takes us.”
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