Granit Xhaka has called on Sunderland to cut out their costly mistakes following their defeat to Coventry City, admitting the Black Cats are making life difficult for themselves.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes after the game, the Sunderland captain questioned whether the repeated errors were down to a mental issue, insisting they were costing the team valuable points.

He said: "You go on the pitch thinking about not making a mistake and then it happens. It's not like the opponents are killing us. If every game we concede goals, we don't have a chance to win."

Xhaka was keen to dismiss suggestions that a lack of effort or problems within the dressing room were behind Sunderland's struggles, but warned that the mistakes needed to stop.

He added: "The players and the coach are not the problem. We have a very good feeling and we know what we want to do. We are prepared. But it's up to us and if we're not doing things after training all week, mistakes are killing us at the moment."

Former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett was also critical of the performance, suggesting the Black Cats were second best throughout and failed to create enough going forward.

He said: "We were second best. There's a lot of worrying points for me that's come out of that game. You can't argue about the effort but we just seem second best all over the park. Coventry wanted it more than us, they had better movement. We didn't work the goalkeeper."

Bennett also questioned whether head coach Regis le Bris is now under pressure, insisting results would ultimately determine his future.

He added: "Of course he is, it's all about results, it's as simple as that. We were on the path to getting a performance here but we've gone back to square one."