Dick Advocaat says Sunderland 'even worse than last week'

Dick Advocaat called Sunderland's display "even worse than last week" after they were beaten at home by Norwich.

The Stadium of Light stands began emptying before the hour mark in a 3-1 home defeat to Norwich that followed an opening-day beating at Leicester.

Advocaat spoke openly of his unease at the Leicester performance, and the Sunderland manager told Sky Sports he is at a loss to explain his side's poor start.

He said: "It's difficult. In training the players gave everything, I cannot complain about that, but during the game players are playing how I don't expect.

"It's very difficult to find out what it is, but tomorrow we will try, also for myself. It was even worse than last week, in my opinion. You have to make it simple, and if you can't do it simple we have a problem."

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Advocaat agreed to stay on after saving Sunderland from relegation during a nine-game spell in charge at the end of last season, and the Dutchman hinted he will now revert to the approach which brought three wins and as many draws in that time.

He said: "The last nine games last season were quite simple. We had one system, everybody knew what they had to do. Now you try something, and it's not working, so we have to go back to the basics and give players a position they can play."

The one bright spot on the day was a goal for Duncan Watmore on his Premier League debut, and Advocaat said the young striker "showed more in 10 minutes than many others" had all game.

The Sunderland fans who stayed until the end made their appreciation known, and Advocaat said of the walk-out: "I can understand that - the expectation was high that we could start better than last year, but we've started the same."