Potters stoke up relegation fears for Black Cats

A sobering statistic was thrown around during the aftermath of Sunderland’s defeat to Stoke – the Black Cats are only the second team in top flight to fail to win any of their opening 8 fixtures in consecutive seasons.

Not since Bury in the 1905-06 season has any team shared this dubious ‘honour’. It’s an alarming fact and based on performances so far this season, that particular Shakers’ squad would even now outplay Moyes’ men.

Yes, as things currently stand Sunderland are on course for a record breaking season - for all the wrong reasons.

Derby County currently hold the record for lowest points total on 11, which firmed up their relegation from the Premier League in 2007/08. Ironically the Rams broke the tally of 15 previously set by Mick McCarthy’s Black Cat side.

As for the match against the Potters well it went as most supporters will have expected. Therein lies part of the problem. The belief has evaporated from fans, as there is simply nothing of note being shown from those on the pitch. It has become an impossible task to find any sliver of hope to latch onto save for perhaps Jermain Defoe and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Despite the youngster putting in some fine displays since Vito Mannone sustained his injury, he has yet to keep a clean sheet in the league. The concern must now be that by giving the Sunderland born stopper experience, Moyes is at the same time slowly eroding his confidence. Playing in front of a leaky defence on a regular basis is surely a dismal task for any goalkeeper let alone one that is still only emerging on the scene.

The fact that great escape followed great escape in the past has not, in itself, been the problem. The real issue is that no-one within the club appears capable of learning from them. Events have become as predictable as knowing night follows day.

Even though it has been said before, this finally looks to be the year that the Black Cats have used up their nine lives.

For those that subscribe to the theory it will be better to rebuild in the Championship and come back stronger the counter argument is there is no guarantee that Sunderland would come straight back up. Despite the bumper Premier League payout during the summer there was minimal net spend. Therefore given the financial situation looks equally bleak for the Wearsiders it is possible there could be many seasons spent in the wilderness before any Premier League return.

Morale and confidence are plumbing new depths and stability is also non existent. Moyes is likely to be a dead man walking. You only have to examine Ellis Short’s track record to see that the American owner has form for firing managers around this time of year when results have not improved.

Where does the club go from here? Well, it looks like only one way – down.