Breen: We have no excuses

Gary Breen says the team has no excuses for their poor performances so far this season, which sees us sitting in a lowly 17th position, and only five points from a possible 18.

The skipper told SAFC's official site, "There are no excuses. You can't fool the fans and we're not fooling anybody just now. Players mouth off all the time - but it is what you do on the pitch that counts.

Sunderland were highly tipped pre-season to secure promotion this year, but he acknowledges that his side's current form makes them far from promotion candidates. "If we don't get our act together and quickly, we'll be too far behind to have a crack at the Premiership", he said.

"For all our failings as a team – and a young team at that – one of them should never be our desire and determination to run around and put the effort in.

"I'm not saying at times we haven’t tried this season so far. But we've been overrun – that’s disappointing and wholly unacceptable in my book."