Sunderland's poor start continues

Sunderland finished seventh in their first season back in the Premier League last year and went for months without losing at home. This season the picture is very different. The club sit bottom of the table with four points from seven matches. European football, something the club has not experienced for more than fifty years, is a significant part of this challenge.

The Bournemouth match came straight after the Europa League away game in Portugal. Numerous errors and individual mistakes stood out in the game. After the match, defender Nordi Mukiele said the team had become "arrogant". That is not the right word. The effects of physical and mental fatigue are nonetheless clear.

Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor both picked up injuries at the start of the season, which made the situation worse. As a result, Timur Tutyerov, a player who was not planned for the role, has played up front in the last two matches.

Sunderland need to return to the qualities that made them hard to beat last season. Last year the team lost only four league matches at the Stadium of Light. This season they performed well against Arsenal, but concerns grew after a 2-0 defeat to Brighton, who were down to 10 men.

The club play Leeds at home next week, followed by Brentford in the Carabao Cup. The team are expected to rediscover their former toughness, physical strength and aggressive style of play. Mukiele's comments most likely point to the need to return to that intensity and aggression.