Moyes bemoans Kone’s absence at Sunderland

David Moyes admits his Sunderland side are missing Lamine Kone after watching his side slip to defeat to West Brom.

Darren Fletcher and Chris Brunt’s goals sent the Black Cats back to the bottom of the table after Swansea surprised Liverpool at Anfield.

Former Lorient defender Kone is on international duty with Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations this month.

And Moyes admits his side need the 27-year-old – who only joined last year – to return as soon as possible.

“We are missing Lamine Kone at the back. He gives a steadying influence. This was always going to be a difficult period. We are making mistakes and I will take responsibility for that,” said Moyes.

“We are not that far away (from safety). We have to keep going and hope our turn for results will come. We have given away two or three poor goals but our play is not particularly bad – but goals change games.

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“We played better in the second than the first, that is for sure. We are giving poor goals away and we are doing everything we can to eradicate it, but it is a disease we have got at the moment.

“We led to our own downfall but credit to the boys and credit to young George Honeyman, who was our best player by a long way today. We can take some positives from the game.”