Phil Parkinson says Sunderland have not given up on gatecrashing the automatic promotion picture, insisting no team is 'running away' with League One at present.
The Black Cats have picked up eight points in four games since Christmas, which has lifted them from 15th place to ninth - but more importantly cutting the gap between themselves and the play-off places to just a single point.
While Sunderland's recent mini-resurgence has revived hopes of competing for a play-off spot, it has also brought them back into contention in the automatic promotion picture, with second-placed Rotherham United six points ahead of them but with the Millers having played one game more.
At one stage, Ipswich Town and Wycombe Wanderers - who Sunderland face at the Stadium of Light this afternoon - occupied the top two places and threatened to disappear into the distance, but Ipswich have slipped to fifth after eight league games without a win, while Wycombe remain top of the table but they have gone off the boil having taken just one point from their last four games.
And if Parkinson's side win against Wycombe this afternoon, they would close to within six points of their opponents while also retaining a game in hand of them.
Sunderland's recruitment this month will be crucial to their chances of mounting a promotion challenge, be that for a top two place or via the play-offs, but they have at least stayed on the coat-tails of the sides above them despite going five league games without a win themselves.
"There's no team at the moment who is running away with it," said Parkinson.
"Two months or a month ago, it looked like the top two [then Wycombe and Ipswich] were going to build an unassailable lead but that hasn't happened and it is all to play for.
"It's very topsy-turvy this year.
"If you look at Ipswich and Wycombe, for instance, they have both indifferent runs - as have we - and it is a case of how quickly you can find solutions to come out the other side.
"At the moment we are on a decent run and we have a determination about us and we need to keep that going.
"I feel there is momentum in the group and I'm pleased at how we are progressing, but we still have a lot of work to do both with the players we have got, and the ones we need to get in."
League One is undoubtedly more open this season than last.
This time last year, 22 points separated leaders Portsmouth from ninth-placed Burton Albion; this season, only 23 points separate leaders Wycombe from third-bottom Tranmere Rovers.
