JACK ROSS is relishing the pressure that comes with engineering a promotion charge with Sunderland and he wants his players to do the same.

The Black Cats tonight start a run of three consecutive home games when Blackpool visit the Stadium of Light. Win this and then beat Accrington on Friday and Ross will have his team in the automatic promotion spots before the rest of the division plays 24 hours later.

Gillingham then visit in seven days’ time, by which time Ross hopes it’s his side who are entrenched in the promotion places rather than looking in from outside.

After years of misery and struggle, there’s a different kind of load to bear in the final third of the season this time around.

“It’s certainly a more enjoyable pressure than trying to avoid relegation – and I can speak from experience as both a player and manager,’’ he reflected.

“Yes, there’s pressure on both, and stress with it but it’s a better pressure to be promoted or win a league then avoiding relegation. You can’t ignore the pressure of playing and working here, but embrace it and deal with it.

“I don’t sense the players are feeling pressure, but they know they can be better and it’s a different thing.

“I enjoy the pressure, I enjoy football management and I’ve always looked on it as problem solving.

“You always have a problem or numerous problems as a manager and I enjoy the responsibility that comes with it and you learn to deal with the consequences of it. If you are passionate about football and management you can’t enjoy not being manager of this club.’’

The Black Cats dropped two promotion points at the weekend when they conceded late at Oxford.

Ross was frustrated at the outcome, which leaves the Black Cats fourth with games in hand on those above them.

“The group of players here deal with an enormous amount of pressure and expectation every time they play,’’ he said.

“And that goes with the territory, playing football in this part of the world for any club. I’ve not sensed any frustration from them at all.

“There’s disappointment and some disappointment has been with some aspects of the performances when they have dipped below levels. I think we have a genuinely honest group who can reflect that way.

“There’s no anxiety about playing games, it’s more disappointment and frustration and tempered with a desire to improve. We have these games ahead of us this week at home which, by close of play Friday, we can be in an automatic promotion spot.

“There’s a frustration on my part because I would hold ourselves up against anyone in terms of how diligent and how thorough we work. When you have done things not as fluidly as you have done or in the manner you desire, then you are always striving for that.’’

The side has yet to lose in League One at home this season, which is stark contrast to the time when under both David Moyes and Simon Grayson they went a full year without a win in front of their own fans.

The only negative results at the Stadium of Light have come in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, with eight wins and six draws recorded in the league.

Ross added: “We have home games to come and by and large our home form has been very good.

“Is there a pressure of playing for Sunderland? Yes there is, but there is with all positions.

“It’s hard to gauge it against other teams and I’ve always been loathe to do that because every club has their own unique challenges within them.

“One of the differences in managing, coaching or playing for this club is the responsibility on your shoulders.

“I’ve spoke often enough about playing for this club and the pressure because when it comes off and the praise and plaudits from that is fantastic. But you always have to be broad shouldered with it too to deal with it when it’s not going positively.

“But we are in a position where if we win these two games this week we find ourselves second in the league. We accept we need to improve, but we remember where we were not so long ago.

“We have progressed and it’s about taking that next step.’’

Lee Cattermole returned to training yesterday after an ankle injury kept him out at the weekend and Ross has no injury concerns.

The manager added: “We have these home games now and it’s not a defining three games, but it’s important. If we can capitalise and take maximum points then come next Tuesday evening we are in a healthy position – but it’s a tough start against a team who haven’t been beaten since we played them at the turn of the year.

“There’s a tangible reward that if we win these three games then it takes us into automatic promotion places.’’