Sunderland captain Corry Evans has called on the importance of this week as the Lads aim to recover from defeat to Swansea City.
The Lads host north-east neighbours Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light next who come into the fixture in top form having won their last four Sky Bet Championship games.
With eyes firmly set on the weekend’s game, Evans and the rest of the squad are hoping to quickly recover from the weekend’s setback.
“We will just put that game behind us now” he told safc.com. “It is a bit of a one-off when you go down to ten men. I thought we were well on top with 11 men but these things happen in football.
“The week gives us a bit of time to get some extra rest in the legs and it is going to be a big game next Sunday. We are all looking forward to it.”
After a recent spell out of the side due to injury, Evans made his first-team return against Swansea City and feels that the lasting effects have worn off.
The midfielder continued: “I feel fine. I had a tight hamstring after the Blackburn game so it was just the right decision to rest up for a few games. I’ve been training away in the last week or so and I feel fine.”
With an important week at the Academy of Light ahead, Evans says confidence won’t be deterred when Michael Carrick’s side arrive on Wearside.
He added: “We just have to keep our head high and not let the result affect us in any way, I’m sure we will. We know we are a good team and we need to get up for Middlesbrough. We’ll be ready.”