IT might have been the biggest result of Sunderland’s season, but Seb Larsson has warned his team-mates not to regard Sunday’s derby win over Newcastle United as the end of their survival mission.

With a packed Stadium of Light celebrating a record-breaking fifth successive derby win at the weekend, it would have been easy to have left Wearside assuming that the Black Cats had successfully completed their fight against the drop.

Instead, last night's 3-3 draw between Aston Villa and QPR means they find themselves three points clear of the relegation zone with seven games still to play, the last two of which take them to second-placed Arsenal and champions-elect Chelsea in the final week of the season.

In-form Crystal Palace are the visitors to the Stadium of Light at the weekend, buoyed no doubt by Monday night’s win over Manchester City, and for all that Sunderland’s latest win over Newcastle was a noteworthy achievement, Larsson admits it would be wrong to get carried away by a solitary success.

“It’s going to chop and change from now until the end of the season,” said the Swedish midfielder. “I just hope we can put a couple of results together to pull ourselves away. We’re absolutely delighted with the three points and another derby win but we’re still in trouble, so let’s realise that.

“It’s three points, it’s given us a boost and it’s always a fantastic feeling, but we’re not safe by any means. We’re right in the relegation mix and the sooner you realise that, the better it is.

“We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves in terms of thinking we’ve done it because it can change very quickly.

“It’s going to give us a boost and we needed the three points. But it’s about using that now and making sure we take it on in the next few games.”

Larsson’s determination not to lose sight of the bigger picture is commendable, but the quality of Sunderland’s weekend display nevertheless augurs well for the remaining seven matches provided it can be repeated on a regular basis.

Having looked increasingly one-paced and devoid of creative ideas under Gus Poyet, Dick Advocaat’s arrival has unquestionably boosted the Black Cats’ attacking threat. The Dutchman’s willingness to field all three of his main centre-forwards in the same starting line-up has increased Sunderland’s potency up front, and there is also a clear desire to get the ball forward much more quickly than was the case under Poyet.

Just as importantly, Sunday’s performance showcased Sunderland’s ability to perform under pressure, something that could be crucial if the sides around them continue to claim victories in the final month of the campaign.

“Obviously I’m delighted with our performance in the derby, because it’s probably our biggest game of the season,” said Larsson. “The way we were on Sunday, the pressure was really on us. But we need to figure that out and take charge of games the way we did then. That’s the challenge.

“Whichever way you put it, we were under real pressure to perform and get the three points. For it to be a derby on top of that, we had to show some mental toughness and mental strength. We got the three points so it was a step in the right direction, but now we need a few more.”

It will help Sunderland’s cause if Jermain Defoe is able to produce a few more thunderbolts to match the one that nestled in the Newcastle net at the weekend.

The former England international has rightly been lauded for the technical brilliance that enabled him to score the only goal of the game against the Magpies, and even Larsson admits he was not prepared for what was to follow as Defoe swung back his foot to meet Steven Fletcher’s knock-down.

“As a goal to win a derby, it doesn’t get much better than that,” he said. “Hats off to Jermain, but that’s what he’s here for.

“You probably won’t find a better winner for one of these derbies throughout history, although if I’m going to be honest, when I saw he was going to shoot, my first thought was ‘No!’ I changed my mind very quickly!

“What a strike, especially when you’re struggling to score a goal, you need something like that to kick-start you.”

Larsson will miss Sunderland’s next two games after picking up his tenth booking of the season in the derby win.

The midfielder was booked for pulling back Ayoze Perez midway through the second half, and will be forced to sit out the forthcoming games with Palace and Stoke.