Lee Johnson says his goalkeepers know they need to be better after a number of mistakes this season.
Most recently, Remi Matthews dropped clanger as he mistimed the flight of the ball allowing Shrewsbury Town to equalise in midweek.
The Black Cats shot-stopper had his blushes spared when the ball wound up in the back of the net from a free-kick, which looked like a simple gather for the keeper, fortunately for Matthews the assistant linesman raised his flag for offside.
Sunderland have struggled to find a safe pair of hands between the sticks since Jordan Pickford left the club.
Jon McLaughlin has been the closest thing the club has had to an established number one, but he left the club in the summer to join Rangers.
"I think both goalkeeper that we've got will admit that [they've struggled] that's the first part - admitting it," said Johnson.
"They've held their hands up which is good. Listen it's my job to support the players - yes I've got to tell them the home truths and make sure we demand.
"A goalkeeper is a perilous position. You make one tiny little error, for example Remi's error - was actually a very bold error.
"I played with David James who must've dropped a hundred of those types of crosses. At the same time he probably caught 10,000 and set us off on the attack.
"I don't mind bold mistakes. I think the reaction to the mistakes is important, not just from the individual but from the team."
Johnson added: "We are a family. I think you have to create that cause and it's gone now. It's as simple as that.
"You can't be held at gunpoint because of a mistake you've made in a football match. Particularly as a goal keeper because it's a way of life for a keeper.
"You see it in the Premier League at the moment, top, top goal keepers and internationals getting scrutinized.
"It's a part of the position and something that you have to deal with. I think you can support them in terms of the psychologic piece we can give them that toolbox of resilience to find ways to enter the pitch very confident.
"Internalise that power and that strength."
