Monday 24 October 2016 11:40, UK
Jack Rodwell has defended David Moyes despite admitting Sunderland have "gone backwards" since the manager arrived.
Saturday's late defeat at West Ham left Sunderland without a win in nine Premier League games and three points adrift at the bottom of the table.
A run of just one defeat from their final 11 games of last season secured survival and helped earn Sam Allardyce a shot at the England job.
But the slump in results under Moyes is down to the players rather than the new manager, according to Rodwell, who said: "We probably have gone a bit backwards.
"It's not easy when you are chopping and changing all of the time, as players, as managers, but that's no excuse.
"We have a great manager here and we need to do it on the pitch. It's the 11 players on the pitch who have to do it. We have gone a bit backwards, but we are the ones who can put it right.
"The manager will be bitterly disappointed and so are the players. But anyone can beat anyone this season if you put the hard work in."
Wednesday's EFL Cup tie at Southampton is followed by a home league game against second-placed Arsenal, live on Sky Sports on Saturday.
"Sometimes we need a bit of luck on our side as well," Rodwell said. "If we can get a good win against Arsenal, then that will lift us massively."