Cats boss' sympathy for chairman Bob.

Byline: By Stuart Rayner

A defiant Mick McCarthy has expressed his sympathy for the man who will decide his fate as Sunderland manager, and said both he and Bob Murray appreciate the frustration of the club's supporters, writes Stuart Rayner.

After ten consecutive defeats and with no game until Boxing Day, chairman Murray must decide if he should persist with McCarthy or make a change in an attempt to address a situation which is already looking forlorn.

The Black Cats will go into Christmas with less points ( five ( than any team in Premier League history. Until West Bromwich Albion did so in May, no club had ever escaped relegation from the Premiership after being bottom at Christmas. That has cranked up the pressure on Murray ( held personally responsible for the situation by some at the club's Annual General Meeting ( and in turn is testing his resolve to stick with McCarthy.

"I think he's more than hacked off and I can't blame him," McCarthy said of his chairman's mood. "Bob is one of those supporters even though he's done well for himself and been in a position to own the club. The fact is, when clubs are struggling fans do have a go at chairmen, managers and players ( that's just the way it is. We just have to get on with it.

"I think I'm getting every last drop out of the players and I won't quit."

McCarthy was appreciative of the support his team received at The Valley, and saw it as a reflection of a much-improved second-half performance.

"I think the supporters appreciated the way they played for 45 minutes in the second half," he said.

"For the 40 minutes after their second goal I thought we worked their keeper far harder than they did ours. Dean Kiely's made three great saves.

"We all think our supporters are the best but our travelling supporters are terrific." Despite the seemingly hopeless situation he finds himself in, McCarthy is refusing to let his morale drop ( and demanding the same from his players.

"I heard somebody say they were feeling a bit down this week," he recalled. "I said, `Oh great, I haven't stopped laughing for the last 12 weeks.'

"Of course it bothers me where we are and what position we're in but it doesn't bother me personality-wise. I don't go around with a miserable face because if I do it's not going to make it any better.

"The stats, history and tradition will tell you it's becoming increasingly difficult (to stay in the Premiership from this position) but you have to have a positive outlook on life. If you don't, it's only going to get worse."

In what is becoming a regular theme of his post-match briefings, McCarthy blamed individual errors, rather than misfortune, for the defeat.

"It's not bad luck that's taken us to where we are, it's mistakes," he stressed.

"Individually I still believe we've got good players; collectively we're letting one another down with mistakes.

"It was a comedy of errors for the second goal.

"We can't continue defending in that manner."