New Sunderland boss Chris Coleman insists his players must be up for the fight after they lost 2-1 at Aston Villa.
Goals from Albert Adomah and Josh Onomah condemned the Black Cats to a ninth defeat of the season in Coleman's first game in charge.
Lewis Grabban's late consolation gave Sunderland hope but they remain bottom of the Sky Bet Championship and four points from the safety line.
Coleman quit his job as Wales boss to try to save Sunderland from back-to-back relegations and while he saw shoots of recovery in a battling display he knows they must scrap to survive.