Expect another relegation battle, warns Moyes

LONDON: Sunderland manager David Moyes has warned fans to prepare for a relegation scrap for a fifth consecutive season after his side suffered their second successive defeat in the Premier League.

Cristhian Stuani’s double strike for Middlesbrough condemned Sunderland to a 2-1 defeat in the north-east derby on Moyes’ home debut on Sunday, leaving the serial strugglers in the bottom three after the first two games of the season.

Sunderland, who lost to Manchester City in their opening league game, finished fourth from bottom last season, just two points clear of relegation, and Moyes urged caution, saying it would take time to bring in stability. “That’s where they’ve been every other year for the last four years, so why would it suddenly change?” Moyes told British media.

“I don’t think you can hide the facts. People will be flat because they are hoping that something is going to dramatically change — it can’t dramatically change, it can’t.”