Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is showing signs of feeling the pressure ahead of the Premier League visit of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon.
Consecutive 2-0 defeats to Queens Park Rangers and League One giant-killers Bradford City have seen the Black Cats dragged right into the relegation mire and knocked out of the FA Cup.
Such results prompted Poyet into writing an open letter to the club's fans this week, in which he accepted full responsibility for their struggles and asked for them to retain their patience and belief.
The Uruguayan performed miracles to keep Sunderland in the top flight last season, but is frustrated that they again find themselves fighting for their lives, having failed to 'progress in their identity'.
Two points above the drop zone, the Wearsiders are two points behind West Brom, who find themselves in a much more positive mindset following an impressive run of form since the appointment of Tony Pulis.
The Baggies have lost only one of nine matches since the Welshman's arrival and showed evidence of their improvement by thrashing West Ham United 4-0 last weekend to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Pulis has even managed to extract some form from club-record signing Brown Ideye, who appeared to be on his way out of The Hawthorns in January after the club accepted an offer from Qatari outfit Al Gharafa.
However, the failure to land their own transfer targets saw Albion block the move and that has proven to be a blessing in disguise, with the £10m striker having found the net four times in his last three outings.
With him and Saido Berahino up front, West Brom have the firepower to move clear of trouble. Victor Anichebe is available again after recovering from a muscle strain, but will have to make do for a place on the bench.
Defender Jonas Olsson is also nearing a comeback and could be in contention for a place on the bench. Darren Fletcher should return in place of Craig Gardner in midfield after being cup-tied for the Hammers game.
That could be the only Albion change, but Poyet is likely to make several from the side which was upset by Bradford. Costel Pantilimon, Anthony Reveillere, Santiago Vergini, Connor Wickham and Jermain Defoe will all be recalled.
Perhaps most importantly, the Black Cats could welcome back Lee Cattermole. The combative midfielder has not played in 2015 because of a knee injury and has been a sorely missed presence in a team short of characters.
Cattermole scored in the 2-2 draw between these two sides on the opening day of the season.
Sunderland:
Form in Premier League: LLLWDL
Form in all competitions: DWWDLL
Possible starting lineup: Pantilimon; Reveillere, Vergini, O'Shea, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, Larsson, Gomez; Wickham, Johnson, Defoe
West Brom:
Form in Premier League: DWDLDW
Form in all competitions: DWLDWW
Possible starting lineup: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt; Morrison, Yacob, Fletcher, Sessegnon; Berahino, Ideye
Sports Mole says: 0-1
Joe Fish
