Defoe: We can’t afford WBA defeat

Sunderland must look to turn their season around at home to West Brom this Saturday, reckons striker Jermain Defoe.

The Baggies visit the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland going into the game at the foot of the table following the 3-2 weekend loss to Crystal Palace.

Top scorer Defoe, whose double against the Eagles means he now has four goals to his name this season, says all Sunderland can do is get back on the training ground and work hard.

He said: “It is important we take something against West Brom – we need to forget about this one.

“Get back on the training pitch and work hard and try and put in the same performance, hopefully you get a little bit of luck and start to get the points that you need.

“They are probably thinking how did we come away with three points? Hopefully that will be us next week.”

Sunderland have just one point on the board from their first six games, and Defoe knows David Moyes’ side cannot afford another slow start to the season. It is not often you score twice and come away disappointed,” added the former Tottenham striker.

“It is still early days, only six games, but we don’t want to wait until the last couple of months.

“We want the points now to show people how good we are as a team.

“We have to keep our heads up and keep working hard.”