Sunderland's improvement since the festive period has seen Phil Parkinson's side put themselves in a strong position to challenge for promotion in League One. 

The Black Cats are currently sat fifth in the third-tier standings, and will be hoping to make it four wins in a row when they return to action this weekend.

Parkinson's side ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Oxford United in their last match, and they'll fancy their chances of forcing themselves into the automatic promotion places in the near future.

Speaking in an interview with Sunderland's official website, midfielder Max Power insisted that his team-mates aren't getting ahead of themselves after their impressive run of results since the turn of the year.

"This isn’t a time to start getting ahead of ourselves.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves and start getting giddy. We put the Portsmouth defeat behind us quickly and managed to bounce back."

The 26-year-old issued an insight into the atmosphere amongst the current group of players in Parkinson's squad, and is keen to build on some positive recent results.

"Now we can’t take our home form for granted because we need to go out and replicate what we have been doing. We have got a really good squad and there is a really good spirit at the moment.

"At full time on Saturday there were lads who didn’t get on come onto the pitch and were really happy for the lads who have played."

Power went on to admit that his team-mates are hoping to maintain the high standards that they have set for themselves recently, but felt as though there isn't any room for complacency at such an important stage of the season.

"It’s important we continue to show the togetherness we have done recently, and you can see the standards we have set ourselves.

"There will be plenty of twists and turns between now and the end of the season so it’s important we remain level and get ready for next Saturday."

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The Verdict: 

It's good to hear that they're not getting ahead of themselves.

Sunderland have really impressed me over the festive period, and Phil Parkinson has certainly silenced the doubters that he had in the first few weeks of his time with the club.

There doesn't seem to be a lot stopping them, and if they can build on their recent win over Oxford United, then they'll definitely be up there and challenging for promotion back into the Championship this season.

But it's important that like Power says, they can't get ahead of themselves at such a crucial stage of this year's campaign.