David Moyes has suggested that his Sunderland players must stand up and be counted after crumbling against Crystal Palace when they lett a two-goal lead slip away.
The Black Cats were on course for a first league victory under the Scotsman thanks to Jermain Defoe's double at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, only for the visitors to hit back with three goals of their own to win 3-2.
Moyes, who was left unhappy with his side's inability to defend in the closing 30 minutes, is adamant that another relegation dogfight will only be avoided if his players get their act together.
"We're in a similar situation to where the club's been for the last two or three seasons," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "To address this, when we go 2-0 up, we don't lose headers and challenges.
"The players have got to do their bit, and I'm not sure today in certain situations they did. Many managers have said similar things to me and maybe the fans are now used to it. I do think the players need to be big enough to play and do the right things."
Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League table after collecting just one point from the first 18 on offer.
