Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson admits the club’s players have only themselves to blame for their current predicament.

The Wearside club currently find themselves only six points above the relegation zone and are in a bad run of form of five games without victory.

Relegation

They travel to bottom club Queens Park Rangers this Saturday in what could be a crucial match in terms of this season’s relegation battle.

Larsson knows that the Black Cats could be in trouble and find themselves in the thick of it if Saturday’s result at Loftus Road doesn’t go their way.

He told the Sun: “If we lose and those teams under us win, then we are right in the relegation mix. You cannot deny it.

“You have to realise that and accept the situation you are in.

“It is a defining weekend but you could have said that about the last few weekends and the ones coming up as well.

“I am not afraid to talk about relegation because we are in a situation where you are not yet safe. You have to accept it and deal with it.

“I do not think we should be there with the players we have here.

“But we cannot blame anyone else. It is down to us.”

Better

The Swede knows about relegation from the Premier League after encountering it with previous club Birmingham City back in 2011.

However, he is under the belief that this side is much better than that of Birmingham’s that succumbed to relegation on the last day of the 2010/2011 season.

He added: “There is more quality in this squad. Overall, it is a better squad with better players in it.

“I just think we have been way too inconsistent this season.”

Form

Larsson is also aware of his current form not being the best that he can produce but is hopeful he can improve on this and help the club to safety this season.

The 27-year old added: “My season has been inconsistent. One thing which has been a major frustration for me is that in too many matches, I’ve not affected the game enough.

“There is a bit of responsibility on me this season, the way we are set out and I enjoy that part of it.

“But at the same time, it has been frustrating not being able to do what I am used to — like getting a few more assists and a few more goals.

“I will try to correct that in the remaining weeks of the season.

“Every season, you are looking to get to 40 points so that is another 10 points from now.

“If a club of our size and a squad like ours can’t get 10 points in 10 games, we don’t deserve to stay up.”