SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy last night admitted that the Black Cats were rapidly running out of time in their attempt to claim automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Ipswich leaves the Black Cats nine points behind second-placed West Brom with just six games to play.

The Baggies visit the Stadium of Light for a promotion showdown on Sunday and, with leaders Norwich also still to travel to Wearside, a top-two finish is still not out of the question.

But Sunderland's chances have been severely hindered by yesterday's reverse - their first in the League since the four-goal thrashing at Cardiff on February 21.

West Brom's 1-1 draw at Millwall created a window of opportunity for the Black Cats, but a strangely subdued showing at Portman Road meant they finished the day in a worse position than they started it.

"It's increasingly hard because we're running out of games," admitted McCarthy. "But I'm not conceding anything yet.

"I'll tell you more after we play West Brom on Sunday, but it will be hard to catch them now.

"I think we're the only side who have any chance of catching them and that's a nice position to be in."

Ipswich boss Joe Royle was less charitable, feeling the defeat ended any hopes Sunderland had of clinching a top-two spot.

"Sunderland will be in the play-offs," said Royle. "The top two have been the best at grinding out results all season and they are not going to lose four of their last six games now."

Yesterday's game was Sunderland's ninth in a month and, after keeping up the pressure at the top of the table with a succession of wins, McCarthy's side finally looked to have run out of steam.

Victories over Wimbledon and Sheffield United were the perfect response to the disappointment of FA Cup semi-final defeat to Millwall, but a third win in just six days proved too much to ask.

Sunderland held their own in the first half but, after Tommy Miller converted a 45th-minute penalty following Thomas Myhre's foul on Darren Bent, the Black Cats never looked like getting back on level terms.

"I think at some stage you do get a bit leg weary," said McCarthy. "But I'm really proud of the lads and the way they've responded to the semi-final defeat.

"Maybe when you concede a penalty on the stroke of half-time you start to feel your tired legs a bit.

"I don't think there's any doubt that the penalty was the turning point. It gave them such a massive psychological lift. I thought we were the better side in the first half but the game turned on its head after that."

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