The Black Cats have managed just one point from their first four games.
Kevin Kilbane has urged Sunderland to give David Moyes time to turn things around at the club while speaking to the Daily Star.
The former Everton and Manchester United manager took charge at the Stadium of Light this summer after Sam Allardyce departed to take charge of England.
He had to endure a frustrating summer transfer window as he struggled to adequately improve his squad for this season.
That has shown in their start to the campaign, with Sunderland without a win in their first four Premier League games.
Last time around saw them comfortably beaten 3-1 by Everton at home, with fans and pundits alike criticising their performance.
The pressure is already on Moyes to turn things around, although he is only the fifth favourite to be sacked at present, and Kilbane has urged the Black Cats to be realistic in their thinking.
“David and Sunderland are the perfect fit. But everyone has to be realistic,” he told the Daily Star.
“There were difficulties in the transfer market which stemmed from David getting the job so late. He wasn’t able to get his No.1 targets. Sunderland need continuity. David can give them that – providing they stick by him.”
It remains to be seen if Moyes can get Sunderland firing and improve on this poor start to the season.
Striker Jermain Defoe is key to their hopes once again after his 15 league goals almost single-handedly kept them in the division last season.
If he is to score the goals they need though, the Black Cats will have to significantly improve their creative output having managed to create just three big chances so far this season.
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