Phil Babb comments on why Sunderland are failing

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Sunderland lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday and currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone following a winless start.

Former Sunderland defender Phil Babb has given his thoughts to Sky Sports News HQ following another difficult start in the Premier League for the Black Cats.

David Moyes has taken just one point from his opening five league matches as Sunderland manager as the club have kept up their reputation as notoriously slow starters in the top flight.

The Black Cats are now without a win in their previous 24 Premier League matches in August and September and Babb believes that a number of factors have contributed to the club’s continuing struggles.

“The expectation is a massive factor, a big crowd, stadium etcetera,” he told Sky Sports News HQ.

“The expectation is that they should be challenging they should be looking to be a top 10 club. I think multiple recruitments of managers when things are going a little bit wrong, they seem to get rid of them far too quickly in my opinion.

“In the past four or five seasons they’ve never really stuck with a manager, they have a knee-jerk reaction – and it hasn’t worked.”

Sunderland have failed to get over the 40 point mark in each of the last four seasons yet have still managed to keep their top flight status intact as they always seem to recover from their poor start.

But Babb – who was relegated with Sunderland in 2003 – is concerned as to whether the Wearsiders can keep it up and avoid the drop season after season.

“They’ve survived by the skin of their teeth in the Premier League but there’s never any foundation to really build on that,” the 45-year-old continued.

“They’ve brought Moyes in thinking he’s going to be the answer but he’s proving so far this season that it’s going to be difficult and when your manager comes in and says within the first three games that we’re in a relegation fight, that doesn’t send out a good message either.”

Sunderland face QPR at Loftus Road in the EFL Cup tomorrow evening before back-to-back league games at the Stadium of Light against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.

A trip to bottom side Stoke City follows so expectations will surely be for the Black Cats to pick up at least one win over their next few matches or else they could be in real trouble once again.

Will Sunderland stay up this season?