EFL pundit Scott Minto believes the pressure on Sunderland's players to deliver success is huge, but has backed Phil Parkinson as the right man for the job.
The Black Cats have endured a tough start to the season, and sacked Jack Ross last month, replacing him with the more experienced Parkinson.
But with just two wins in his first eight games in charge, Sunderland sit seventh in League One table, with form of late not flattering to say the least.
Minto told Football League World: "Sunderland are a team that I see as a Premier League club.
“I see Leeds United as a top Premier League club – Sunderland are not a top Premier League club, clearly, but they are a Premier League club, however that brings Premier League pressure.
"I think that it’s been going on for so long with Sunderland that fans are realising that it’s not about turning on the players if they’re not 2-0 up after 20 minutes, because fans don’t do that.
“But when you’re playing for a club like Sunderland there are massive pressures there.
“When you’re playing for a club like Sunderland in League One, I’d imagine there’s more pressure than if you were playing for Sunderland in the Championship because everyone thinks that they shouldn’t be there.”
He continued: “Each season that goes on it is the season that’s the worst in their history.
“You’re looking at a club that’s not based on winning trophies or massive success, but it’s a big club so that means that you need big mentality players.
“If you go down 1-0 at home, I can tell you that the pressure gets higher. It’s harder to try and perform how you want to, but you have to work harder, it’s as simple as that."
Sunderland's latest slip up saw them lose 3-0 away to Scunthorpe on Tuesday evening - another embarrassing display which saw them exit the EFL Trophy.
But despite his difficult start, Minto does believe Sunderland chose well when they appointed Phil Parkinson.
He said: "One thing I will say about Sunderland is that they’ve got the right man in charge. What Phil did at Bolton – and then put up with at Bolton – this is one of the most experienced men in the game.
“He’s going to have to make sure that they’re solid at the back first and then build from there because that’s the philosophy and style anyway.
“It’s not about playing pretty football, it’s about playing winning football. That’s what Phil Parkinson is about. He’ll be getting that mentality into the players on a daily basis.”
