SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon has urged supporters to stand by the team even if Saturday’s crucial match with Burnley doesn’t go their way early on.

The Black Cats welcome Sean Dyche’s men to the Stadium of Light tomorrow with both sides sitting one point above the Premier League’s bottom three.

A dreadful run of five league games without a win has led to disharmony on Wearside with fears growing that the club is heading for another relegation battle.

Head coach Gus Poyet did little to enhance his relationship with fans when he accused them of living in the past following last weekend’s goalless draw with Fulham in the FA Cup, and a failure to beat the Clarets tomorrow will increase pressure on the Uruguayan.

Six victories in 26 league games on Wearside has done little to inspire the Stadium of Light crowd, but Pantilimon has called for fans to put their frustrations to one side and stick with the team if they fail to make an early breakthrough against their fellow strugglers.

“I hope they don’t be like this (frustrated),” the Romanian goalkeeper said. “Everyone talks about the fans and maybe we haven’t given them what they expect, but I think they have supported this team.

“They understand football and I’m sure they will be behind us on Saturday. Sometimes we don’t do the best job, but I know our desire is there.

“We are fighting for every point and we hope we can bring the supporters closer to us with some good results.

“It is an important game. We need to win. It’s an important game for us and we want to give the fans a good day with a victory.

“I understand their frustrations, because they support us all the time. They get behind us home and away and we need them. Only with them behind us can we get good results.”

Sunderland have played 3-5-2 in their previous two games as Poyet seeks the right system to get the best out of Jermain Defoe, but so far the switch has not gone to plan.

The Black Cats head coach is confident he has the right players to make it work and Pantilimon insists the squad is good enough to adapt.

He said: “We can’t think about this. For us as professional football players it is important to give everything and be good for the team.

“The most important thing is for this team to get good results and we are working to do that.

“We have to adapt to the new formation. We are good enough for every system. It is the manager’s decision and we respect that and we have to adapt and play well.”

The Black Cats face a quick turnaround for Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay at Craven Cottage, but having seen three of the Premier League’s top four go out of the competition the former Manchester City stopper has eyed an opportunity.

“It was strange to see teams like Chelsea, Man City go out of the competition, but it is better for us and a good chance for us to go forward. Why not win this competition?”