Town boss Joe Royle was very disappointed with his side's display during their costly defeat at Wolves.
After the game he said: "We just did not get started. We were not tight at the back and could not keep the ball up front. We were probably fortunate to only be two behind at half-time.
"The pitch is not very good but it is the same for both sides so that is not a mitigating factor. In the second half we were better and we got behind them but we did not carry enough threat."
Royle still found reason to be upbeat however: "I would have settled for being in the position we are in with four games to go. I can assure the Sunderland manager, Mick McCarthy, that we will be better on Sunday. With four games left there is still everything to play for."
Meanwhile Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle was full of praise for the performance of his side and said: "I thought that we were excellent.
"We could easily have won by four or five if it had not been for the Ipswich goalkeeper who pulled off three world-class saves.
"Ipswich are a good side but we outgunned them. That kind of result has been coming as we'd been playing well without getting our rewards by drawing too many games.
"I honestly feel that of the 14 draws we could have won ten of them if we'd been a bit more clinical and decisive. Now we want to go on and extend this unbeaten run for the rest of the season."
Hoddle remained tight-lipped on whether he will stay at the club beyond the end of his contract this summer however by adding: "That has to be discussed at the end of the season when a lot of things need to be assessed. I need to find out if the club want me to stay."