CHRISTIAN BASSILA is trying not to think too far ahead at Sunderland, in fear of making things worse on Wearside.

The Black Cats have been cast adrift at the bottom of the Premiership table, eight points shy of safety, with hopes of survival fast disappearing as they head to Charlton today.

Bassila, who arrived from Strasbourg on a free transfer in August, admits that he always knew the first season was going to be a struggle in the English top flight.

But the Frenchman insists that he, along with the rest of the Sunderland squad, should not draw too much attention to what has gone on before and concentrate more on what lies ahead.

Manager Mick McCarthy has watched his side lose their last nine matches - they have actually won just once in the league this season - and his job security has become more uncertain in the past couple of weeks.

But Bassila said: "We are worried about the manager's position but in each team it's the same, you need to work on the pitch to help the manager's situation.

"You have to keep going because if you think too much about the manager's position you will lose. I try to do my best at my own job, concentrate on my job and then hopefully everything works itself out.

"It's not a good position for this club to be in. Sometimes when you think about the position you are in, after you play, you can't stop thinking about it. You go home after games, or you are sat on the team coach, thinking about what we need to do to get out of it.

"After you have lost you look at what has to happen in the next game if we are to climb out of it. You look at what difference it makes if we win or lose our next match.

"There are a lot of questions that keep spinning around in my head. It can really get to you. What you have to do is keep going and try to do your best on the pitch."

Despite Sunderland's perilous position, Bassila insists that the attitude in the dressing room is as upbeat as it can possibly be when a team is so far behind the rest at the half-way stage.

But the 28-year-old believes results have to turn around quickly if the squad are to avoid becoming resigned to relegation over the Christmas period.

"I knew when I arrived here what the situation would be like. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't think we would be fighting for points," said Bassila.

But we all have to believe we can get out of this.

"We are at the bottom of the league, right at the bottom, but there's nothing much we can do about it.

"We need to think about the future and Sunderland are a team for the future, I believe that.

"It's a nice atmosphere. We need one win, if we don't then it's more difficult for all of us every game that passes.

"You need to be cool and work hard. When you are at the bottom you need to work hard. It's worrying when you look at the league table and you see Sunderland at the bottom.

"But we have to stay calm and try to get out of trouble."

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