Despite talking confidently about proving the 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion was an isolated incident, the Black Cats served up more of the same one-dimensional, one-paced football which raises serious question marks about Sbragia’s influence on the dressing room. Sunderland are four points clear of the drop zone with three games left to play and will hope Newcastle and Middlesbrough, the teams third and second from bottom, draw next weekend when they face each other at St James’s Park.

Even if that proves to the case, Sbragia knows his position as manager is under threat unless Sunderland’s results and performances improve.

Sbragia added: “There wasn’t enough effort and desire for me and we were careless when we had the ball. All of our reputations are on the line and I make no attempt to disguise that, but the players do care. They realise the situation we are in and they want to do something about it I thought we could have been a bit more motivated, especially when we knew the results had gone for us earlier in the weekend. I think the players do go out there intending to work hard, getting the performance right is another thing.”

He added: “I have expressed my dissatisfaction and I’ve told them some home truths, but that stays between me and the players. We are disappointed we haven’t won the game because I felt we could do. There is fear. We didn’t retain the ball well enough and we didn’t make the right decisions. The fear factor comes into that, it affects the players’ decision making and ability to pass the ball. All we can do is get back on to the training ground and focus on a difficult away game against Bolton next Saturday. Hopefully we can put things right straight away.”

Everton manager David Moyes was delighted his players put FA Cup final thoughts on the back burner and maintain their challenge for fifth place.

“The big game at the end of month is on the players’ mind but they got a result today and we have given ourselves a real chance,” he said.