Sunderland fans deserve better from David Moyes than telling club to expect relegation scrap

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."

Moyes handed home debuts to five players in a youthful line-up against Middlesbrough and hinted there could be more additions in the close season.

"We have to get the balance right between young and experience and get the right values in the transfer market," the former Manchester United and Everton manager added: "This is the group of players at the moment, but we have two or three who will come back (from injury) and we will add to it and improve it."

Sunderland next welcome Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup on Wednesday, before travelling to the St Mary's Stadium to face Southampton on Saturday.

Is honesty really the best policy in such circumstances?

How David Moyes can say the club will be fighting relegation after only two matches gone, and two 2-1 defeats sounds utterly bizarre. Unless he is fraternising with a form of reverse psychology to motivate his squad, it is also unacceptable. One of those losses came at Manchester City, favourites to win the league, on the opening day of the season courtesy of a new defender in Paddy McNair scoring on an own goal on his debut for the club.

It is premature comment to make in the extreme, and is hardly going to foster an atmosphere of positivity among Sunderland players after a couple of matches of a 38-game campaign in which Sunderland should be focused on finishing in the middle of the table at least.

Sam Allardyce - whose side lost only one match in nine matches in the death throes of last season - would certainly not have been thinking about another relegation scrap if he had been manager this season, and neither should Moyes. Whether they can achieve a top-half finish is a moot point, but they should be aiming high. English champions Leicester showed last season that self-belief is as important as ability.

And the right manager can also have an uplifiting effect on a squad. Tell a squad they are no use, and some will start to believe it.