Moyes turns tinkerman in bid to find his best side
HE MAY be only three games into his Sunderland career but David Moyes is already emerging as something of a tinkerman. Hampered by injuries to key figures, the 53-year-old has used 20 players already this season. Only Watford, with 21, have used more in the Premier League. Moyes has also tried three different formations and admits a lack of personnel is preventing him from experimenting further to discover his best system. ‘I’d like to tinker but I just don’t think I’ve really got the players at the moment to make too many changes,’ said Moyes. ‘I’m trying little things. ‘We started today in the same shape as Southampton. We played differently against Manchester City and against Middlesbrough. I want to be flexible but quite often because of the level of the opposition we’re having to make sure we can stop them and have a platform to build from there.’ After trying 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 this season, Moyes opted for a midfield diamond here but had goalkeeper Jordan Pickford — deputising for the injured Vito Mannone — to thank for keeping Southampton at bay with three superb saves. Jermain Defoe (right) looked to have snatched an unlikely victory with an 80th-minute penalty but five minutes later Southampton were level when a drilled Jay Rodriguez effort squirmed beneath Pickford and into the net. It was unfortunate for the youngster but underlined Sunderland’s need for another goalkeeper before Wednesday’s transfer deadline — with Moyes not ruling out a loan swoop for Joe Hart. Defoe praised Pickford’s performance and said the mistake would not knock his confidence. ‘That won’t affect him in any way,’ said Defoe. ‘It was difficult for the young goalkeeper to come in. He was thrown in at the deep end but he’s a confident lad. I thought he was our best player today. ‘He kept us in the game. His decisions were superb. He made some good saves. I thought he was brilliant.’
SUPER STAT: Sunderland have picked up only nine points from 51 in August since their last win in the opening month in 2010.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-1-2-1-2): Forster 6; Soares 7, Van Dijk 7, Fonte 6.5, Targett 7.5; Romeu 5; Hojbjerg 6.5 (Ward-Prowse 82min, 6.5), Davis 6.5; Tadic 6.5 (Long 67, 6.5); Austin 5 (Rodriguez 74, 7), Redmond 5. Subs not used: McCarthy, Yoshida, Clasie, Bertrand. Scorer: Rodriguez 85. Booked: Redmond, Davis.
SUNDERLAND (4-1-2-1-2): Pickford 6.5; Manquillo 6, Kone 7, Djilobodji 6.5, Van Aanholt 6; Rodwell 6; Pienaar 6 (Lens 67, 6), Gooch 6.5 (Love 77); Januzaj 5.5; Defoe 6, Borini 5.5 (Watmore 64, 6.5).
Subs not used: Stryjek, Khazri, McNair, Asoro. Scorer: Defoe 80 pen. Booked: Pienaar, Rodwell.
Man of the match: Matt Targett. Referee: Lee Mason 7.5.