HOWARD Wilkinson last night told Kevin Phillips and Sunderland's other senior players that they must take full responsibility for saving the club from relegation.

Even though Wilkinson has given Sunderland's youth its head by granting opportunities to the likes of George McCartney and Michael Proctor, he knows the Black Cats' fate is ultimately in the hands of their older teammates.

Sunderland could be bottom of the Premiership come Monday night should they lose at Chelsea and results elsewhere go against Wilkinson's side.

But the manager wants his squad to banish such negative thoughts and is keen to see the more experienced Sunderland players take the initiative as they try to bounce back following last week's defeat to Birmingham City.

Wilkinson said: "On buses they say, 'Women and children first.' Those who are expected to cope with situations like this have to show the way and take the lead.

"They have to step forward and say, 'Let me do it.' They shouldn't be saying, 'That's not my job.'

"They've got to look for work and look for responsibility, and look to lead those less capable, which is usually the inexperienced.

"They have to show them that there's a way through the minefield.That's something I've tried to address since I came here but I've put more emphasis on that this week.

"You don't have to be the general to be a leader. Sometimes, people don't want to be leaders. It's not until you force responsibility on them that they find out a bit about themselves.

"It's remarkable how much that pleasant surprise can do: the fact they emerge at the other side of the minefield having done well.

"Their self-esteem goes up and their assertiveness goes up, and it's part of my job to help them through that."

Wilkinson knows his team could be subjected to another ceaseless barrage of pressure at Stamford Bridge, a fortnight after their magnificent defensive effort prised a point from Liverpool.

Sunderland, who hit fewer league goals than any other team in the top four divisions last season, are again 92nd and last in the scoring stakes with a paltry total of just eight in 15 Premiership games.

It is a problem Wilkinson knows must be addressed as a matter of urgency as they look to shoot themselves clear of the relegation zone.

He said: "If you're not hard to beat, you're going to lose football matches. If you lose football matches, the goals will dry up anyway.

"If you are hard to beat but you can't score, you won't be hard to beat forever.

"You can't split the difference between being hard to beat and trying to score more goals. We've got to take more responsibility in that area."

Wilkinson has noted Chelsea's emergence this season as genuine title contenders after several frustrating years when their Premiership efforts were undermined by their inability to beat the weaker teams on a regular basis.

He puts that down to the more settled look to Claudio Ranieri's squad. And the Black Cats chief said: "Chelsea have become more consistent, and the team selection and formation looks more consistent. They haven't lost any of their good players, and some of their good players have got better.

"Sometimes, you can be spoilt for choice, and if you have a limited choice there's more consistency about who plays and where they play."

Wilkinson added: "There were tangible signs of improvement from our team, with the results and goal difference getting better, before the Birmingham game.

"People will now ask if the dip will continue, or if we will get back on track.

"People were disappointed after last week's game because we didn't reach the standards we've been setting ourselves. "The players are aware we can't afford off-days."