JOHN O’SHEA thinks Sunderland have already shown they have the character within the squad to put a horrible few days behind them by concentrating on conjuring up a performance worthy of victory in next week’s significant match with Aston Villa.

Despite the unwanted distractions of having to learn of team-mate Adam Johnson’s arrest earlier this week, the Black Cats somehow found improvements in them to recover from a dreadful start at Hull City on Tuesday to come back to earn a point.

The Tigers, who had taken the lead through Dame N'Doye, had further opportunities to extend their lead, while Gus Poyet’s frustrations boiled over when he kicked over a drinks bucket before he was sent to the stands and then he clashed with opposite number Steve Bruce.

To make matters worse inspirational midfielder Lee Cattermole faces a two-match ban for becoming only the second Premier League player – the first was Newcastle’s Jack Colback - this season to collect a tenth yellow card. Poyet, too, is expected to be charged by the Football Association and is likely to be handed a touchline ban.

But Sunderland, who had turned in a dreadful opening hour in an attacking sense at the KC Stadium, somehow battled back to claim a point courtesy of Jack Rodwell’s 77th minute header to keep the side clear of the bottom three.

But O’Shea, who was himself fortunate not to have been sent off at Manchester United last Saturday, knows Sunderland must do better when 17thplaced Aston Villa turn up at the Stadium of Light a week on Saturday.

The Irishman said: “I think when you’re 1-0 down away from home against a Hull team we’ve had a few poor results against recently, and the manager makes a few changes, it was one of those games where we battled back well and on another night we could have nicked it.

“We were definitely in the ascendancy, and finished the stronger team. Jack scored the equaliser and although it wasn’t easy he had another chance late on from one of Patrick’s crosses.”

Courtesy of Christian Benteke’s 90th minute penalty against West Brom on Tuesday night, Aston Villa are just a point behind Sunderland ahead of the trip to Wearside. That fixture will also provide an opportunity for fellow strugglers QPR, Burnley and Leicester to boost their chances of survival.

O’Shea said: “If you’re going to survive in the Premier League it’s going to be a bit tense. We took a point from Hull, and OK we wanted three, but under the circumstances it was a decent result for us.

“You are where you are in the league, and you find yourself where you deserve to be. If we survive, it will be because we deserve too.”