Simon Grayson press conference: Black Cats boss on Ipswich Town, dropping into the Championship relegation zone and injury latest

Here's what he had to say in the television section of the press conference at the Academy of Light.

Is the club in free-fall and what can you say to reassure fans of the current situation?

"Anybody who has seen the last couple of performances have seen we are doing okay but it hasn't been good enough to get results. We have to do better.

"Players have to take responsibility. Can I guarantee we won't go down?

"Nobody can guarantee nothing will happen like that but there is a long way to go. We have 37 games to go, with key players back and a few results suddenly it can look a lot more positive.

"That is what we are concentrating on. We all care about the club. Nothing is won or lost in September."

Is it a relief to be playing away from home given the Stadium of Light form?

Grayson said: "Proof will be in the pudding if we get some positive results. We have always tried to use the talk about not winning at home as a positive in terms of putting it to bed quickly.

"For large parts of Saturday we didn't do too badly. It will come.

"We are all in this together. We are not far away from getting some positive results.

"Players coming back from injury will help. We have to keep believing we are doing the right things and we believe we are."

On being in the bottom three ahead of the upcoming international break?

"Of course we don't. The table doesn't look good when you look at it but nothing is ever won or lost in September, we have 37 games to play and know a lot can happen.

"Ultimately, we want to start winning matches quickly and get up that division."

On dealing with the pressure?

"I will take as much pressure off the players, that is my job. I don't get too despondent, or too carried away when we are winning games.

"I am disappointed in where we are, it hurts because I am a manager of a football club that wants to get results. We are all in this together and will fight our way through it.

"I have enough games and years under my belt to know we are not too far away from getting results.

"That will help us along the way. Nobody likes to be on the run we are on at this moment in time. We have to work hard."

Injury update on Duncan Watmore, Callum McManaman and Jonny Williams?

"Duncan played 70 minutes on Sunday and looked very good. He could have scored a few goals, had some good opportunities. I was pleased with what he did.

"We have to go with the medical department as to when he is back, that day will be sooner rather than later.

"In terms of Jonny Williams and Callum both didn't train yesterday, we are training this afternoon, we'll have an update later."

Would you have expected more with this squad?

"When you come to a club like Sunderland you expect to be higher up the division but if you take four of five key players that would be in the starting line-up out of the team then you won't necessarily get the results you want, that has gone against us.

"We won't use it as an excuse, we have to do the fundamentals better. Be harder to beat and grind a result out."

On Ipswich Town away and manager Mick McCarthy:

"I am a big admirer of Mick and a good friend of his. Last year he was getting criticism but he just overrides it and gets on with his job. There is no more experienced manager in this division than him, I am full of respect for him.

"Lets go there and put on a performance and we can get our season going again."