Black Cats in ‘must-win’ situation already

Sunderland manager David Moyes deems points rather than performances the priority as his side remain at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Moyes’ Black Cats are winless in the league, drawing just two of their opening eight matches.

And while the Scot acknowledged good performances can lead to good results, he just wants to get points on the board to stop his side getting cut adrift at the foot of the table.

“I want us to play well – playing well and performing will lead to good results,” said the former Manchester United boss.

“We would love to get a feel-good factor running through the club, I’d love to get that first win under our belts so that we could start to look up.

“But while we are where we are at the moment, we are struggling, so we have to dig in and we have to try to pick up points.

“If it’s one, if it’s three, we have to pick up as many points as we can at this moment in time.”

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Sunderland lost 2-0 at fellow strugglers Stoke City at the weekend, and are back in Premier League action on Saturday, with a trip to West Ham United’s London Stadium.

And the 53-year-old admits that, even at this early stage in the season, the Black Cats are approaching must-win territory.

“Now we go into the West Ham game and we need to win,” he added.

“Having just two points is dangerous, we need to win our first game.”