Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole has called on his side to push on next season to avoid being involved in a relegation battle for the fourth straight campaign.
The Black Cats escaped the drop to the Championship by taking 12 points from their final nine matches of the season under Dick Advocaat after looking in peril when Gus Poyet was sacked in March.
However, Cattermole has insisted that Sunderland cannot view their escape as a cause for celebration and have to ensure they are not embroiled in a scrap at the foot of the table next season.
He told the club's official website: "I was delighted for the boys [when the full-time whistle sounded at Arsenal] because you saw the amount of effort they put in. We had a lot of draws and we didn't feel like we were too far away from being a good side.
"I think we deserved to stay up but I don't think it is cause for celebration; it is more of a relief and we need to look to get better and improve so that we push the club on.
"There is enough in the dressing room to pull through tough times and we have got over the line again, and now we can look to plan and push on."
Sunderland are searching for a new manager after Advocaat opted against extending his stay at the Stadium of Light, while David Moyes reportedly rebuffed a move to Wearside.
Simon Sinclair
