Ex-defender Danny Higginbotham feels Sunderland are capable of beating the drop due to the quality of players present in their ranks.
Following the 4-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace last weekend, Sunderland slipped to 16th place in the Premier League table and are now currently only one point off the drop zone.
Given their terrible run of recent results, many are expecting the Black Cats to suffer the drop, however, former player Higginbotham does not share this view and has stated that the likes of Jermain Defoe, Adam Johnson, Lee Cattermole, John O'Shea and Connor Wickham are good enough to inspire the Wearside outfit to fend off relegation.
Speaking to the Chronicle, the former defender said: "Of course the players have to take responsibility. I got relegated twice and, at the end of the season, I did not look back and blame the manager - I thought why have I not done as well as I should have.
"Sunderland have players who are capable, there is no doubt about that. Jermain Defoe, Adam Johnson, Lee Cattermole, John O'Shea, Connor Wickham - that is a team that should stay in the Premier League."
