Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has urged teammates to stay calm as they battle against the drop.
The Belgian is adamant that each of their remaining six games must be tackled in isolation if they are to escape.
He said: "As a professional footballer, we can't think about that.
"We can't think about what's going to happen in the Everton game or the game after that, or what's going to happen at the end of the season.
"Now we have to focus and get ourselves ready for the game against Newcastle because there are three points to win, three points to lose.
"I know obviously it's a derby game and there is much more at stake than only the three points, but as a football players, you can't think of that because that's not important at this moment.
"Points are far more important, and therefore we have to focus ourselves on that and nothing else."