91Èȱ¬

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet says "it would be a miracle" if his side avoided relegation from the Premier League.

The Black Cats remain bottom of the table after their 5-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

Sunderland are seven points behind 17th-placed Norwich City and have two games in hand on the Canaries.

But Poyet, who took over from sacked Paolo Di Canio in October, told 91Èȱ¬ Sport: "Sometimes the table doesn't lie. It would be a miracle to stay up."

He added: "It's very hard to take, it's not nice.

"I imagine how hard it is for the fans, but there is no place to hide. I am responsible because I am in charge, and I accept full responsibility."

Poyet signed keeper Oscar Ustari, defenders Marcos Alonso and Santiago Vergini, midfielder Liam Bridcutt and forward Ignacio Scocco in the January transfer window.

The Uruguayan guided the Black Cats to the Capital One Cup final, which they lost to Manchester City at Wembley at the start of March, as well as the FA Cup quarter-finals.

However, Poyet's side have continually struggled in the league and have picked up only one point from their last seven top-flight matches.

The club's remaining seven league games involve them playing Everton, Cardiff, West Brom and Swansea at home, while they face trips to Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Poyet believes his side need to win at least four of those matches to have a chance of securing Premier League survival.

"I am very honest and I know where I am. It doesn't matter if it was five minutes ago or if you asked me on Friday," added the former Brighton boss, who had not managed in the Premier League before this season.

"I am realistic, when you look at the table and the games that we have got left about how many we need to win.

"I think we need a miracle. We need something unique, a shock because if not I cannot see it coming."