Swansea City head coach Luke Williams has challenged his players to prove they're capable of challenging for the Championship's top six as he looks to inflict more festive pain on bottom side Hull City.

Williams watched his Swans' outfit lead Sunderland 2-0 on Saturday before succumbing to a stunning comeback from the Black Cats to lose 3-2 and fall seven points adrift of the top six.

Five defeats in their last 12 outings has checked their progress, but the manner of the loss against the Black Cats has left former Notts County chief Williams questioning whether or not his side have the quality to compete for the top six.

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“Miles off the level,” the Swansea head coach mused. “Miles off the top-six level. We’re not even close. That’s very obvious after watching that. Thinking about it (play-offs) is one thing. But playing against the top six and getting destroyed makes you realise that we’re nowhere near it.

“We couldn’t cope with the pressure of being two up after a run of decent results. Couldn’t cope with the pressure. I’m sad for the group of players in there. They obviously have a fear of achieving their potential. That makes me sad because I love those guys, and they have an unbelievable opportunity, and they are scared of it.

"Today was an example of us doubting what we can do and what type of group we want to be. There was a lot of doubt – it stank of it. I could feel it coming off the pitch into the technical area. We are talking about competing with the top six, and we are struggling to break through that barrier.

“We get tested in those games. We’ve done very well in parts of all of those games, but ultimately, we’ve failed because there is a difference between the genuine top-six sides and the rest of us. We want to break into that group, but there is a lot for us to do to achieve that.

“I believe that we have enough quality in the group if we play together. I don’t think we are that type of Galactico group where we don’t always play well, but somebody will always pull a rabbit out of the hat. That’s not us.

“As soon as we start to hide a little bit, as soon as we are not brave enough, then the sum of the individuals is not anywhere near the same. The opposition were fighting blow for blow with us in the second half, but in the second 45 minutes, they continued and we stopped.

“In that situation, the gap becomes very, very obvious. To be clear, I am talking about the difference between the top sides and the rest of us, and that was what was on show. I don’t want to be average. I didn’t come here for that. That’s my job; I am in tune with my group, and I know when they are desperately trying to find a way out of a pressure situation.”