Up to a couple of weeks ago, Sunderland appeared to be coasting towards the safety blanket of lower mid-table.
But recent results have thrown any comfort away. An FA Cup loss to League One Bradford at the weekend proved embarrassing and they are hovering above the drop zone in 15th place after losing at home to QPR.
That has put pressure on manager Gus Poyet, who has hit out at the media, after they reported comments he made about the fans.
North-East football writer, Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, has been to many of the Uruguayan's press conferences and is baffled by the hostility as he told Off The Ball tonight.
"Gus Poyet needs to look at himself. He's the one who said what he said. And he's the one who's now attacking the press. It's not our fault," said Edwards, adding that "when he's emotional, he says daft things".
Edwards feels Poyet has created "artificial pressure" on himself by snapping at the media.
Listen to the full interview via the podcast:
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