The Black Cats are bottom of the Premier League.
Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has described Sunderland’s team as being as nervous as a kitten.
The Black Cats are yet to win in the Premier League this season and have avoided defeat in only two of their seven league fixtures so far.
David Moyes’ men did however show some fight in their most recent outing against West Bromwich Albion, coming from a goal down to equalise through Patrick van Aanholt in the 83rd minute.
But for the opening and closing 20 minutes, though, Nicholas saw little to convince him that Sunderland will repeat their usual trick and avoid relegation to the Championship this season.
“They played with drive and passion in the first 20 minutes and had the crowd behind them, but the terrifying thing is David Moyes is right to say this is another season battling relegation,” Nicholas told Sky Sports. “Some of their players are not good enough to take it any further.
“With 20 minutes gone and after just two West Brom attacks, Sunderland became the most nervous team I’ve seen at this level. But then, with 20 minutes to go and 1-0 down, Moyes changed the game with his substitutions and all of a sudden the crowd got behind them and they created chances again.
“They showed a bit of fight, which I liked, but this team is really low on confidence and nervous as a kitten.”
Sacked England boss Sam Allardyce kept Sunderland up against the odds last season, but his abrupt departure left Moyes with much rebuilding to do.
And of the Scot’s 10 summer signings, half are aged 22 and under, while youngsters Jordan Pickford, Duncan Watmore and Lynden Gooch have all featured prominently this season.
As such it is perhaps understandable that the Mackems find themselves short of confidence this time around.
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