With no win in seven league games, David Moyes is facing the toughest task of his career to keep Sunderland in the Premier League.
Sunderland manager David Moyes poses
It’s not been the start to the season David Moyes would have hoped for, with just a pair of EFL Cup victories in his first 10 games in charge of Sunderland all to show for as the club are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
The Black Cats look a team who could be destined for the drop having let a 2-0 lead slip against Crystal Palace to lose, and also tasting defeat to newly-promoted Middlesbrough at home.
With a visit to also-winless Stoke City after the international break, defeat to The Potters will land Sunderland in huge trouble and put their 10-season spell in the top flight in jeopardy.
It has not exactly been the most enjoyable of times for the former Manchester United and Everton manager.
And as you can see from the pictures below, the Scot has often worn a grimace rather than a smile at the almighty job on his hands to save Sunderland’s Premier League status.
Sunderland manager David Moyes acknowledges fans at the end of the match against Manchester City
Sunderland couldn’t have asked for a tougher start by travelling to the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but despite Jermain Defoe drawing Sunderland level, a late Paddy McNair own goal gave Guardiola a first Premier League victory and the first of many defeats for The Black Cats.
Sunderland’s Joel Asoro in action with Middlesbrough’s Antonio Barragan as Sunderland manager David Moyes watches on
Welcoming newly-promoted Middlesbrough to the Stadium of Light, Moyes could only look on as Boro raced into a 2-0 half time lead courtesy of Cristhian Stuani.
A Patrick van Aanholt strike wasn’t enough to salvage something on the day and as Aitor Karanka’s side left Wearside with all three points, Moyes was probably beginning to wonder what job he’s got himself into.
Sunderland manager David Moyes against Southampton
A narrow win over Shrewsbury in the EFL Cup was followed up by a credible 1-1 draw away at Southampton, with Sunderland earning some respite by avoiding defeat.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman and Sunderland manager David Moyes
But it didn’t last long as Moyes’ former club came to town and Romelu Lukaku tore through Sunderland’s hapless defence to end a goal drought going back to March in emphatic style with a hat-trick.
A 3-0 win to Everton, the reverse of the scoreline last season, kept the pressure fully on Moyes with eight goals conceded in their first four league games.
Sunderland manager David Moyes at White Hart Lane
And it didn’t get any easier with a trip to London to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham, but Sunderland put up a dogged resistance to Harry Kane et al who struggled to find a way past Jordan Pickford.
But thanks to a mix-up in defence, which pretty much sums up The Black Cats’ entire season, Kane was able to stab home Spurs’ winner, while the visitors had Adnan Januzaj sent off to compound their misery.
Sunderland manager David Moyes looks dejected
If a picture paints 1000 words, this image of Moyes after Crystal Palace’s dramatic 3-2 victory at the Stadium of Light is perhaps the most accurate representation of Sunderland’s season.
Blowing a 2-0 lead to allow The Eagles to steal all three points courtesy of Christian Benteke’s header, the result was a damning indictment of Sunderland’s character and capability as they sat rooted to the bottom of the table.
Sunderland manager David Moyes against West Brom
In their last game before the international break, Sunderland had to make do with a point against a stubborn West Brom side drilled to within an inch of their life under Tony Pulis.
Lacklustre and void of any creativity and cohesion, Patrick van Aanholt managed to cancel out Nacer Chadli’s goal to share the spoils on Wearside, with Moyes really starting to feel the pressure in the hot seat.
With a crucial game away to fellow strugglers Stoke next, a two-week break should hopefully rejuvenate Sunderland and spur them into life, otherwise they’ll be waving goodbye to any hopes of an extended stay in the division.
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