Liam Bridcutt claims complacency was not to blame for Sunderland's downfall against Hull, just a week after they triumphed in the Tyne-Wear derby.
The midfielder made his Black Cats bow, having joined from Brighton in January transfer window, as Gus Poyet's side produced a shock 3-0 victory over rivals Newcastle as St James' Park.
Liam Bridcutt: "It has definitely been two very different extremes.
"Last week, we knew it was a massive game for the club.
"It was a great performance and we played really well. But we did not get overexcited.
"Playing Hull was always going to be difficult, every game until the end of the season is going to be.
"It just wasn't our day. All the boys were sat disappointed in the dressing room.
"We know we have made it a little bit harder for ourselves now. But we've top players who have bundles of experience. They know the Premier League inside out.
"We are in a fight but we know what it is going to take to get out of it. The manager will pick us back up."