Norwich lost by the same scoreline on their return to the Premier League at Crystal Palace last weekend, but goals from Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond put them 3-0 ahead at the Stadium of Light.
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The Black Cats started their 2015/16 Premier League campaign in disastrous fashion as they were soundly defeated 4-2 at Leicester – a result which flattered the visitors.
Dick Advocaat has admitted that he is at a loss to explain his Sunderland side’s performance after they were beaten 3-1 at home by Norwich City on Saturday.
If that was a wake-up call Sunderland slept right through it: Norwich’s quickly-taken corner caught them cold, Robbie Brady’s shot rebounding off Pantilimon and in off Martin, who had the decency to look slightly sheepish in celebration.
The Scotsman told BBC Sport: “I thought it was very good, similar to last week in that we dominated the game”.
“We’ll be so happy on September 1, because things here change every day”.
Asked about his away record he said: “We do try to have no fear, reegardless of where we’re going”.
“You can play bad, but not knowing what to do makes it even worse”.
Yet Sunderland have added to the squad in the summer, with defenders Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Coates and Adam Matthews coming in along with midfielders Jeremain Lens and Yann M’Vila. We played really well last week and didn’t get what we deserved. I still think we have a better team than previous year. “It is better than we expected”.
Nevertheless, the Dutchman was less than impressed with the display and has called on his squad to show the kind of fighting spirit that kept them in the top flight at the end of 2014-15. “I think that is already the case, and there is still two more weeks of the transfer window to improve it”.
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“I have heard what he (Carragher) said, and maybe it is good for Patrick”, he said.
