CORRY EVANS claims Sunderland’s players have already switched their attention to this weekend’s eagerly-awaited Wear-Tees derby with Middlesbrough – and written off Saturday’s defeat to Swansea City as ‘one of those days’.

The Black Cats’ game with the Swans was turned on its head in the 18th minute when Luke O’Nien received a straight red card for a mistimed challenge on Ollie Cooper.

While Sunderland dug in commendably as they attempted to hold on with ten men for more than 70 minutes, they eventually slipped to a 3-1 defeat that saw them fall to tenth position in the Championship table.

With O’Nien’s dismissal having completely changed the complexion of Saturday’s game, Evans insists there is no point dwelling on what went wrong.

And with a huge derby game looming large on the horizon, the midfielder is adamant it will not take long to get the weekend’s disappointment out of the system.

“For the first 20 minutes, I thought we were well on top and were playing really well, were aggressive in our press,” said Evans. “We sort of kept nicking the ball off them and were using the ball well too.

“Obviously, the sending off changes the game and these things happen in football. I think it’s a different type of game when it goes to ten men with the sending off, and our focus is on Middlesbrough next week now.”

Sunderland were on a five-game unbeaten run heading into the Swansea game, and Evans sees no reason why the Black Cats cannot immediately embark on a similar system as they look to thrust themselves back into the play-off mix.

Middlesbrough are heading to Wearside in excellent form, having won seven of their last eight league games, but Evans is adamant he and his team-mates have nothing to fear from their North-East neighbours.

“I’m more than confident we can go on another run, hopefully starting next week with Middlesbrough,” said the Sunderland skipper. “If you look at every game, I don’t think there has been one where we have been outplayed.

“Obviously, there have been moments in games where teams have been better than us. I think the West Brom game in the second half and Burnley in the second half. But if you look at the squad (those teams) have and the manner they have spent, I think where we have come from in League One, it gives us great confidence. On our day, we are more than a match for anyone, and we just have to continue as a team and club.”