GARY Breen has warned his Sunderland teammates that their efforts will count for nothing if the Black Cats fail to win promotion to the Premiership this season.

Mick McCarthy's side have made giant strides since tumbling out of the top-flight 12 months ago, reaching the last four of the FA Cup and making a concerted push for an automatic promotion place.

But last weekend's 1-0 defeat to West Brom made a top-two finish all but impossible and, after Wednesday night's 3-0 reverse at Crystal Palace, Sunderland still need two wins from their final four games to be certain of a play-off spot.

Breen remains confident the Black Cats can put the disappointment of the last seven days behind them over the final month of the season.

But, with play-off rivals Wigan hoping to pile on more misery this afternoon, the Republic of Ireland international has admitted that it is time for Sunderland's players to stand up and be counted.

"We felt we were good enough to get automatic promotion," said Breen. "But unfortunately we haven't done that.

"The disappointment is still great, but we have to reassess the situation and move on. We need to consolidate, make sure we get in the play-offs, and get up that way.

"It's a test of our character. We've got to get promoted into the Premiership and so it's time for players to step forward and make sure that happens. Talk is cheap - it's what we do on the pitch that counts.

"It's up to the players now. There are young players that have come through and done ever so well. But if they're looking back on their season and thinking they've done enough, it's not good enough.

"The manager's very good at taking the pressure off by talking about the situation the club's been in - but that doesn't really affect the players.

"We believe we've got the best squad in the league, so therefore we've got to get promoted. We can't look back on the season and think 'Yeah - we did alright', because that means nothing.

"People can pat you on the back and say 'You've done well after all that happened last season' - so what? That's not getting back into the Premiership and that's all that counts."

Today's game at the JJB Stadium marks Sunderland's 51st outing of an already arduous campaign.

The Black Cats have confounded the critics who were predicting a season of struggle following last year's dramatic fall from grace but, after nine months of effort, everything hinges on the seven games Sunderland will have to play if they are to enjoy play-off success.

"If you play football then you realise that this part of the season is always going to be the business end," said Breen.

"It's not something that's suddenly thrown upon us. If you want to be successful - whether that's winning promotion or avoiding relegation if you're in the Premiership - this is the stage of the season where you're going to have to do the business.

"This is where you want your players to step forward and show their true character."

That character is being tested to the full after consecutive defeats against Ipswich, West Brom and Wigan have opened up a 12-point gap between Sunderland and the top two.

As a squad, the Black Cats have always maintained that automatic promotion was the number one aim for the season.

Going up via the play-offs won't erase the disappointment of being found wanting on that score. But it will go a long way towards righting some of the wrongs that have seen Sunderland struggle to keep pace with the top two.

"When you look back at the points we've dropped in certain games, we probably should have gone up automatically," admitted Breen.

"I would like to have gone up in the top two. But it wasn't to be and I think Norwich and West Brom have been worthy winners of that race.

"Norwich spent money at a time when we all thought they would struggle, and West Brom are so resolute as you saw last weekend.

"They've done it in different styles and we take our hat off to them because they deserve to go up.

"But Sunderland should be in the thick of things. They're a big club and they should be right in amongst it.

"A lot's happened behind the scenes, and Mick's done well to create a strong, positive team without having any money to spend.

"But all of that doesn't affect the players. If they want to go on to be top class and have big careers, they need to be showing their true character now. If we don't get promoted, it's a slight on their performances."

l The Football Association has hit Millwall with a charge of failing to control their players during their semi-final win over Sunderland earlier this month, writes PAUL MITCHELL.

A melee erupted involving the majority of players from both sides at Old Trafford on April 4 after Jason McAteer's foul on Lions skipper Kevin Muscat, but Sunderland have escaped punishment for the incident.

Muscat was later forced to leave the field with a knee ligament injury after a foul by Black Cats skipper George McCartney which has since ruled him out of the final against Manchester United.

Millwall were charged with the same offence after a similar confrontation during a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United in a Nationwide Division One game at Bramall Lane on March 2.

Player-manager Dennis Wise was fined £3,000 and warned for launching a tirade at referee Frazer Stretton during that match.