"Worst performance in 18 months" - Mick

Mick McCarthy didn't attempt to hide from a hugely disappointing performance that saw the Lads lose 2-1 to Championship newboys Plymouth Argyle at Home Park this afternoon.

1,307 travelling Sunderland supporters saw the Lads go 1-0 down even before the opening minute was out, and the players went in at half time 2-0 down.

Marcus Stewart salvaged a consolation goal ten minutes before the end, but Bobby Williamson's team took all three points to see Sunderland slip to 16th position in the league.

Mick said, "There are no excuses - we were beaten by a side that worked harder than us on the day. Plymouth were the better side.

"We could have taken a point but it would have been stolen. We were very disappointing.

"We were left with a lot to do after a bad start - we didn't compete apart from the last 25 minutes.

"That's our worst performance in my 18 months at the club."

Sunderland: Myhre; Wright (Lynch 58), Breen, Caldwell, Arca; Lawrence (Elliott 64), Robinson, Whitehead, Oster (Thornton 64); Stewart, Kyle. Un-used Subs: Alnwick, Brown.