MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 23:54:17| >> :120:44210:44210:

Humiliated Sunderland and Gus Poyet face critical month

Sports Mole looks ahead at a critical month for Sunderland and manager Gus Poyet following their 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Southampton last week.

Five months after guiding Sunderland from a miraculous escape from the dropzone of the Premier League, Gus Poyet must once again rally his side following their 8-0 hammering at the hands of Southampton last week.

The Black Cats equalled their record loss at St Mary's Stadium with a display of abject defending, leaving the Wearsiders boss to admit that the afternoon was the "most embarrassing time" he had spent on a football pitch.

Poyet now faces a massive challenge to reinvigorate his side for their clash with Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

However, the Uruguayan may have shown the first sign of frustration at Sunderland, hinting that he wasn't happy with the quality of players provided in the summer by the club's recruitment staff.

He told reporters: "I'm a head coach. I don't make the squad, that's not my job.

"I've four defenders, I play what I've got. I'll take responsibility at a set piece – it was me, I pick the team and put it on the pitch. The rest, I'm sorry, I'm not going to take."

The Black Cats spent in the region of £15m in the summer, with the majority being used to sign Jack Rodwell from Manchester City, who has had an inconsistent start to the season. Meanwhile, injuries to fellow signings Billy Jones and Sebastian Coates have left Sunderland short of options at the back.

Whether this was simply an overreaction to seeing his pride dented or something deep dwelling only time will tell, for a club who have had four permanent managers in three years, and six in six years since Ellis Short assumed full control of Sunderland in 2008.

For all the problems and jibes created by a humiliating defeat, the Black Cats are still three points behind seventh-placed Arsenal going into their match, so the sky isn't falling for Poyet's men, yet.

However, Sunderland are now set to a run a gauntlet of fixtures especially at the Stadium of Light, where following their clash with the Gunners they come up against Everton, Chelsea and Manchester City at home, while they also travel to Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

The Wearsiders' home form has been good this season in light of playing against difficult opposition, and they will have to maintain that to escape this run of games outside of the bottom three.

Their miraculous run to safety last season showed there is a strong spirit in the Sunderland squad, and that cannot afford to be lost with ructions in the camp, least of all from the manager.

A strong performance against the Gunners, even in a defeat, will quell a lack of confidence in the players and eradicate doubts about their quality in the mind of Poyet.

A repeat of their response to their 5-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, when the Wearsiders narrowly lost to Everton at the Stadium of Light, could be just what they need, as that performance proved to be a prelude to their escape from the drop.

Although, another capitulation could turn things critical on Wearside. The next month will see if the Black Cats will once again be embroiled in a bitter relegation battle, for the second straight season in the top flight, and give a huge indication of Poyet's long-term future at the club.

ID:184193: cacheID:184193:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5310:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ronald Koeman, manager of Southampton looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on August 17, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Southampton vs. Sunderland
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!