Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has accused Sunderland of not playing with enough desire after they suffered their second defeat of the season.
The Black Cats lost 3-1 at home to newly-promoted Norwich City to add to last week's 4-2 defeat at Leicester City, and Merson believes the players did not give their all.
He told Sky Sports News: "They're all over the place. I've been in teams where you're getting well beaten at home when the crowd are on your back and it isn't nice.
"You've got to show a bit about you and today if any of those players said: 'could I go off?' they would've all gone off.
Merson also thinks that the players aren't giving 100% for manager Dick Advocaat, who steered them to safety last season and accepted a one-year deal to lead the club this term.
Merson added: "No disrespect to Norwich but they've absolutely rinsed Sunderland. At the moment, they're all over the place, never looked like winning any of the games and when I always look at games they don't look like they're running around for the manager like they were last year, that's my opinion."
Sunderland host Swansea City next weekend.
Charlie Bennett
