Sunderland manager David Moyes has said that he expects more from his players after the club recorded just one point from their first four Premier League fixtures.
A 3-0 defeat to Everton at the Stadium of Light on Monday evening has left Sunderland in 19th position in the standings and Moyes has admitted that he is keen to see improvements from his squad to avoid being cut adrift at the bottom of the table.
The 53-year-old told reporters: "I'm certainly up for the challenge - that's what I came for. When I wanted to come back in, I wanted somewhere that excited me - I'd like to say this was really exciting, but maybe not in the way I hope.
"There has to be a realistic element to this. There is a building job and we are up against it, undoubtedly. But we have got a great chance to prove ourselves and we have got a great chance to show what we can do.
"The players here need to lift their levels because for too long, it's been too close to the bottom level. They need to show that this is not their level because maybe soon, some of you people might say it's got nothing to do with the managers here, maybe it's got something to do with the players. The players have to lift their levels for us to be competitive."
Sunderland make the trip to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
Darren Plant
