Moyes safe despite Sunderland woes

The club’s owner, Ellis Short, has belatedly recognised the need for stability in the dugout.

The presence of Short at the weekend looked ominous for Moyes. It was only the second time this season Short had attended a home game, but senior club sources are adamant it was not to prepare the ground for Moyes’s sacking. Having changed manager every season since 2010 to keep Sunderland in the top flight, Short intends to stick by the one who looks like he will finally take them down.

Moyes has not conceded defeat, but he knows how bleak things are. His only crumb of comfort is that Sunderland have been in this sort of position before and survived.

Few expect them to do so again, but it is something to cling on to after his side missed a series of chances in the second half against Burnley, for whom goalkeeper Tom Heaton was once again impressive.

“We are getting close to needing something special,” said Moyes. “It’s been done here regularly. But I know it’s going to be tough.”

For their part, Burnley remain winless on the road, but can be more than satisfied. Having decided not to sack Sean Dyche when they were relegated in 2015, Burnley have come back stronger and their manager’s stock has soared.

Dyche has been linked with Sunderland in the past and, interestingly, refused to say they should stick with Moyes if they went down, but Scott Arfield insisted that was precisely what they needed to do.

“One hundred per cent,” said Arfield. “I really believe continuity is massive. Burnley are proof of that. Maybe we can act as an example to teams like Sunderland.”