Carlos Cuellar insists Sunderland are not already down.
Black Cats' boss Gus Poyet claimed his side need a miracle after their 5-1 thrashing at Tottenham on Monday.
But Cuellar is adamant all is not lost.
"It is really, really difficult for us now but we still believe," said the Spanish defender, who was a surprise inclusion at White Hart Lane in place of axed skipper John O'Shea.
"We have too many games to go to give up on survival now.
"We still have teams in the relegation area to play at home and we must take hope from that.
"It is far too early to think that we are relegated so we keep fighting."
