JOHN O’Shea has kicked off a crucial month for Sunderland by warning: “The relegation threat is real.”

The Black Cats’ frustrating winless run has seen them dragged back into the relegation mix, even though the five-point gap between themselves and Aston Villa affords them a modicum of breathing space.

But any complacency at their plight would be unwelcome, with O’Shea admitting that there is still plenty of work to do to draw away from the dogfight.

Much of that work will be done in March as Sunderland embark on a winnable run of games that begins with the visit of Fulham to the Stadium of Light.

With Norwich and QPR to come in the next two weeks, it could be a potentially pivotal period for Sunderland’s season – which has tailed off after a New Year upturn saw them pull away from trouble.

In truth, their performances have warranted so much more than the zero points haul but, as Martin O’Neill conceded on Saturday, by the middle of the week displays are forgotten and results are viewed as all-important.

It is a message that has been heeded by stand-in captain O’Shea (right), who is counselling against any kind of complacency despite the five-point buffer between Sunderland and trouble.

With 11 games to go, the

campaign can go either way for the Black Cats – who would view a top-10 finish as progress this year.

“We are taking the relegation threat very seriously,” said O’Shea.

“We have come off in the last three games and thought, ‘How have we not got anything from these games?’

“The next thing you know there’s eight or nine games left and we think, ‘Here you go, relegation is not too far away’.

“The sooner you get the wins on the board the better.

“We start with Fulham and that will not be easy because they are a very competent Premier League team.”

Sunderland’s problems seem to centre round the pivotal points of losing clean sheets – and leads.

While their all-round play has arguably been worthy of at least a couple of wins from their trio of defeats, they have gone behind in every game and conceded cheap goals.

That happened again at West Brom, with Titus Bramble’s back-pass paving the way for Romelu Lukaku’s second goal.

Even a late fightback, inspired by Stéphane Sessègnon, wasn’t enough to cancel out previous errors.

“The main overriding feeling is frustration,” said O’Shea. “For major periods of the game we have had great chances but have come off the pitch with no points.

“You don’t want to keep looking over your shoulder.

“We know we are not too far away from ninth, 10th, but we also know we are not too far away from the relegation zone. We have to rectify that.

“We have got a home game to look forward to with Fulham and then QPR and Norwich.

“Those are games we will have to be making sure of (getting results in). If we weren’t creating the chances we would be worried, but we have been having great spells in games.

“Whether it is poor finishing, a lack of concentration or whatever it is, we need to rectify it quickly. We also need to make sure we get back to keeping clean sheets as well.

“That’s the main point we have to improve, and if we do we will start to win matches again.

“Taking the lead is vital as well – it gives you such a lift – otherwise it is an uphill task.”