United stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a home win over Newcastle but Hart believes the situation is far from terminal.
“We’ve had leads, United have had the lead – it’s to-ing and fro-ing at the moment,” he declared.
“We’re a team of winners, it’s hard and it hurts but we’ve got to move on. It is hard to lead and it is hard to chasse too.
“We’ve clawed points back before, we proved it at the end of last year – we’ve just got to believe.”
Hart’s England pal Adam Johnson scored the game’s only goal and the goalkeeper admitted he was disappointed that the ball squirmed into his net.
“First and foremost someone stamped on Zaba – it was a blatantly obvious foul but what can you do?” Hart said.
“I was in my position for the shot and that’s where you’ll see me again on Saturday but he’s struck it well with just enough wobble to beat me.”
...Joe Hart...
“A few of our players have stopped but Johnno has seen me sniffing for a cross and he’s struck it well with that stiff ankle of his and it just deviated under my hand unfortunately.”
City have a poor record at the Stadium of Light, having failed to win there on their last three visits but England’s no.1 only has eyes for the challenges ahead.
“The only way we can change it is by winning here next year but for now we only have Norwich on our minds,” he stressed before handing out praise to his opposite number.
“Simon Mignolet has had a magnificent game, he’s a brilliant goalkeeper I’ve watched him closely in other games and I think Sunderland defended for their lives and it just wouldn’t go in for us.”
