Liam Lawrence has been ordered to carry on playing and leave the pressure and weight of expectation on his manager's shoulders.

The Sunderland midfielder did make his boss's job a little easier on Friday, when he nodded home from close range - after Marcus Stewart's shot was parried - in the 2-0 victory at Burnley. It was his sixth goal of the season.

Sunderland's third successive victory sent them to the top of the Coca Cola Championship table for the first time this season, albeit briefly.

Wigan's 1-0 win at the JJB Stadium over promotion rivals Ipswich meant they now head the table on goal difference.

With the race for promotion to the Premiership gathering pace the pressure is on and it seems like the Tractor Boys are beginning to falter. Only two weeks ago Ipswich led the table by six points before three defeats on the bounce sent them tumbling to third.

With ten nerve-jangling games to go before promotion is finally decided and another crucial test of their credentials coming up at Crewe on Saturday, fans could be forgiven for thinking the pressure must be at breaking point around the Stadium of Light and Whitburn training ground.

Lawrence, however, says he and his playing colleagues haven't felt under any pressure at all, despite the intensity and frequency of the recent games.

"The manager has told us he is going to handle the pressure side of things and keep us away from all of that," said the former Mansfield Town midfielder. "We're just taking each game as it comes and hopefully we can keep winning games.

"He is a very good manager and he really knows what he's doing. He has spoken to us a few times about taking each game as it comes and told us not to worry about the other side of things.

"We had a team meeting last week to discuss how to handle the pressure."

Lawrence also revealed that one or two of McCarthy's more experienced professionals are always on hand to offer a few words of advice when the need arises.

"They're all good, right down from Carl Robinson and Marcus Stewart," acknowledged McCarthy's £175,000 signing.

"They're always talking to you and Breeny (Gary Breen) is a good captain."

Although the 23-year-old midfielder is - to coin the old football clich - trying to 'take each game as it comes', he did confess with some trepidation to casting his eyes over the tough April fixtures which lie ahead.

He said: "You do try to take it a game at a time but you're always looking at the fixtures.

"These are the big games coming up and you do get nervous.

"I have butterflies thinking about it, but you just have to keep a cool head.

"I've never been too nervous but then again I've never played in front of 48,000 in a massive need-to- win game. But I think I can handle it. I have a decent head on my shoulders."

Being able to unwind plays a massive part in coping with the intensity and burden of being a professional footballer.

Lawrence, however, confessed that although he tries to get away from football when he clocks off from the day job at the Whitburn training ground, he says he finds it almost impossible to do so.

He said: "I try to switch off, go out and keep myself busy. I sometimes meet up with the lads after training and go for some food or I go home and go on the computer. But I always find myself flicking through the sports channels at about eight o'clock watching football."

It is well-documented that Lawrence was one of several youngsters who arrived on the Stadium of Light doorstep from the lower leagues last summer, and many questioned whether they could make the step up.

Lawrence admitted he did examine his own credentials on more than one occasion himself when he first arrived, but overall says he had every confidence he could succeed.

He added: "I've always had belief in my own ability and I'm just glad I've had the chance to do it.

"On occasions the gap has seemed bigger than I'm used to. But then on other occasions I feel as if I've handled it quite well. There is the odd time though when you're blowing a bit and you get tired and you get sloppy."

Meanwhile, team-mate Dean Whitehead yesterday signed a one-year contract extension to his current deal.

The 23-year-old midfielder signed a three-year contract last summer when Sunderland paid Oxford United a £150,000 fee for his services.

There was also the promise of an extra year by McCarthy on performance-related terms.

The new deal means he will remain at the Stadium of Light until 2008.

Whitehead has made 37 appearances and scored four goals for the Black Cats since his move to Wearside in June.

His initial transfer fee was set by a tribunal in September and it included a clause which meant the League Two side received an extra £15,000 for every ten appearances completed, up to 50 games.

Sunderland will also have to cough up an extra £100,000 should they win promotion.

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