David Moyes’ return to management in England has been a disappointing one so far, as his Sunderland side currently sit bottom of the Premier League.
The former Manchester United and Everton manager took over from Sam Allardyce in the summer, but has yet to lead the Black Cats to a Premier League victory.
Black Cats boss, Moyes – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
His side have picked up just two points from their opening seven matches, and are one of just two sides still winless in the league (the other being Stoke City).
The Black Cats have at least reached the fourth round of the EFL Cup, thanks to narrow victories over Shrewsbury Town and QPR, but they need to start picking up points in the league if they are to stay up.
However, it should not all be doom and gloom on Wearside because here are THREE reasons why Sunderland will turn their season around…
They’ve been here before, and stayed up
Former Sunderland and England manager, Allardyce – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
It must feel like déjà vu for Sunderland fans, based on the majority of their recent Premier League campaigns.
It took the Black Cats until their tenth game of last season to record their first win of the campaign, beating neighbours Newcastle United 3-0, and they still stayed up under the stewardship of Allardyce.
In fact, Sunderland were out of the bottom three for just seven weeks of that season, but it’s only whether they are there in the final week that matters.
Ultimately, they have been in this position before – a slow start and performances not quite at the level needed – but there’s more than enough time to turn it around.
A number of the players there now were there last season, and thus have built up the know-how on staying in the division.
There’s no reason why they can’t do it again.
Jermain Defoe
Star striker, Defoe – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.
In Defoe, Sunderland have one of the most clinical strikers the Premier League has ever seen.
The 33-year-old has scored 147 goals in the top tier of English football, and it was his goals that helped keep the Black Cats in the division last season.
He netted 15 times last time out, including crucial goals in the win over Chelsea on May 7, and the 1-1 draws against Southampton, Newcastle, and Stoke.
When you’ve got a striker like Defoe in the side, you’ve always got a chance of scoring goals. Keeping him fit and giving him service will be the key to Sunderland’s survival bid once again.
West Brom draw a possible springboard
Defender Lamine Kone – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Much in the same way as Stoke, although neither side got that much-needed first win of the season, the manner of their draws at the weekend could be a springboard for better times to come.
Sunderland drew 1-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion, which on the surface may look like a game they had to win, but in reality it was certainly a point gained.
Patrick van Aanholt’s strike seven minutes from time rescued a point for Moyes’ side in a game they played pretty well in, especially in the first-half.
Their international break would’ve changed thanks to that late goal and, although they’re still bottom, confidence will be a lot higher now than it was prior to the West Brom game.