Defence still the key for slack Cats

BLACK CATS boss David Moyes offered no apology for his tactics on his bogey ground where his record is now lost seven, drawn seven, won none.

Sunderland travelled to Anfield after back-to-back Premier League victories but quickly made it clear that a point was the sum total of their ambitions.

Moyes said: “After two great results the last place you want to come is Anfield but I thought the players did a great job in managing the game.

“I don’t know any good teams who aren’t first and foremost defensively sound.

“If you want to win the Premier League you are going to have to have a good defence.

“If you want to avoid relegation, you have to have a good defence. We have not been good enough defensively recently.

“We had frustrated them for long periods but the difference in quality in the two squads would probably give you a reason why it wasn’t good enough.”

Moyes was left to bemoan the “fine margins” between winning and losing when Sunderland had a wonderful opportunity to score when the match was evenly poised in the 68th minute.

Victor Anichebe set up Duncan Watmore, only for the wide midfielder’s poor first touch to take the ball too wide.

He did get the ball into the danger area, but the home defence scrambled clear.

“I thought we had a great chance at 0-0,” added Moyes.

“Victor slips in Duncan Watmore and he can either hit it with his left or he can quickly control it and get a shot away.

“They are the small margins you sometimes need to take. Then they go and get their goal.” MATT FREEMAN