'We have to..' - What Burnley and Leeds United bosses have said about promotion run-in amid Sunderland battle

From now until the end of the season, Sunderland face 11 Championship matches that will ultimately decide their promotion fate this term.

The Black Cats are currently fourth in the table, eight points adrift of the automatic promotion places, and will surely believe that if they are to catch second-placed Sheffield United, they will need to be almost faultless during the final stretch of the campaign. With that in mind, here is everything that the respective managers of Sunderland’s promotion rivals - Burnley, Sheffield United, and Leeds United - have had to say on the upcoming run-in...

Scott Parker - Burnley

Speaking after his side beat Cardiff City 2-1 in midweek, Parker said: “This was massive. There’s just 11 games left now and this is what it’s all down to. At times, you're going to have to grind, you're going to have to dig, you're going to have to be the team that just gets the results and crosses this one off. This is another one we've crossed off. We go to the final 11 now. Luton at the weekend, full focus is on that now and hopefully we can keep pushing ahead.”

Chris Wilder - Sheffield United

Following his side’s recent defeat at the hands of league leaders Leeds United, Wilder struck a similar tone to Parker, reiterating his belief that anything can happen between now and the end of the season. He said: “It's a long way to go still. I'm respectful to the Sunderland manager and the Burnley manager as well, there's a lot of football to be played.

“Monday [against Leeds] was always going to be about putting yourself in a better position than we you came in at five o'clock or six o'clock, and they've put themselves into a better position than we have. We had an opportunity to do it and we didn't take it. They [Leeds] had an opportunity to do it, and took it. So you have to give them credit for that.”

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Daniel Farke - Leeds United

Despite his side being in the driving seat of the promotion race, Leeds boss Farke has urged the Whites to stay grounded during the final weeks of the campaign. Speaking in the aftermath of that valuable victory over Sheffield United, he said: "When you win against top sides in this league, it's good for the confidence and for the whole mood, but it's just three points.

"Not too much has changed, just one game less - one really difficult game less - but if we stop winning points right now, we won't finish in the position we want to finish, so we have to keep going. We are happy tonight, but we stay humble, stay grounded and also disciplined, not overdoing anything.

"Anything can happen in the final weeks and also, when there are one or two more injuries or you lose momentum, you won't finish in the position where you have to finish, but I have to say, so far, so good and we have to use this even more and want to keep going."

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