David Moyes believes Sunderland's New York trip will be good for team spirit
Sunday 12 February 2017 11:44, UK
Sunderland manager David Moyes is hoping a short break in the USA will foster some fresh team spirit among his squad.
Moyes is attempting to revitalise his players for the Premier League run-in as Sunderland try to move away from the relegation places.
The Black Cats suffered a setback on Saturday when they lost 4-0 at home to Southampton, a result that leaves the team rooted to the bottom of the league.
Some believe Sunderland should not be going on a break, but Moyes insists the squad are taking advantage of a free weekend to try something different.
He said: "We have got some time together. Look, a lot of teams who are out of the FA Cup are doing different things and we are doing something as well."
Moyes hopes the exercise helps to further integrate new arrivals Joleon Lescott, Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo into the squad and foster togetherness for the battles which lie ahead.
On Saturday, any sense of cohesion dissolved after a promising start from the moment the Saints took a 30th-minute lead in fortuitous circumstances.
Ryan Bertrand's inviting cross left defender Lamine Kone in terrible trouble as he attempted to get to the ball ahead of striker Manolo Gabbiadini, who ultimately turned it past goalkeeper Vito Mannone with his shoulder, although not in the view of referee Paul Tierney.
Moyes said: "It wasn't easy for the referee to see, but nevertheless it changed the flow of the game."
After Gabbiadini sliced through his defence to double the lead, Moyes withdrew John O'Shea, one of three central defenders, at the break and, in time, added Steven Pienaar, Fabio Borini and Wahbi Khazri to the mix, but to little effect and Jason Denayer's late own goal and a fourth from substitute Shane Long completed a miserable day.
Moyes said: "Bits of it in the first half looked okay, but ultimately what you see is the result and the result was bad.
"But every time we put on a more attacking player, it got worse, so for us trying to win the game or do something, it didn't necessarily make us any better."
