Pereira has called the Burnley match a “must win” for his side but he has continued to back his players – and himself.
“Honestly, if for one minute I feel my players are not with me, it’s finished. For me, that’s the end,” he said.
“It’s painful and I’m worried but I see a team connected mentally with good spirit, with character, trying their best to change the situation.”
In the previous two Premier League seasons, all three promoted sides went on to get relegated each time. But there is a different feeling around this season’s newcomers, who have the highest combined points tally (29) of any promoted trio in the past 10 seasons.
Sunderland began this round of fixtures in seventh, with Leeds and Burnley earning two wins each.
Burnley may only be 17th with seven points, but Scott Parker’s side have faced some heavyweight opposition in Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. They have also beaten both of their fellow promoted sides with 2-0 wins at Turf Moor.
Their record on the road, however, is another matter. Burnley have lost all four of their away matches this season, conceding 13 goals.
