Monday 17 August 2015 09:51, UK
Sunderland need to show more fight and commitment if they are to break their two-game losing streak, according to captain Lee Cattermole.
Sunderland currently find themselves at the bottom of the Premier League table having lost their opening two fixtures and, after conceding seven goals, Cattermole said they must try to keep clean sheets.
"It has been a very disappointing start to the season. We have to get going, it's as simple as that," the 27-year-old told Chronicle Live.
"There's no hiding place, and there's nothing else you can do other than dig in and look to show some fight to get things going.
"Maybe we'll have to get back to the basics and not even try to be pretty. We need to show some fight and commitment and look to keep a clean sheet to start with."
Sunderland started their campaign with a 3-1 defeat by Norwich City at home, before losing 4-2 at Leicester City.
Cattermole, currently in his seventh season with Sunderland, believes the Black Cats defence should not shoulder the entire blame for conceding seven goals in their first two matches.
"There's two sides to the game, and you have to do the ugly side as well," the former Wigan Athletic midfielder said.
"If you're getting beat and you're conceding the goals that we're getting beaten by, then it's because you're not defending and shutting people down well enough.
"That's the whole of the team and the whole of the squad."
Dick Advocaat has not shied away from his team's shortcomings and admitted they need to get back to the “simple” system that saw Sunderland achieve the results they needed at the end of last season to stay in the Premier League.
"The last nine games last season were quite simple. We had one system, everybody knew what they had to do. Now you try something, and it's not working, so we have to go back to the basics and give players a position they can play."
Advocaat is expected to boost the squad with several more summer signings. The Dutchman has completed five new deals since making his own role at the Stadium of Light permanent at the end of last season, and wants at least another two before the end of the transfer window.
He believes many of his side's problems during the last campaign was a result of a number of players being able to rest on their laurels with their place in the starting line-up assured.
