Allen leaves Moyes still looking for a lift
THE misery for David Moyes goes on as Sunderland are now the only team in the four English leagues without a win this season.
They and Stoke had shared that dubious honour heading into the match, but two goals from Joe Allen settled matters to leave the Black Cats propping up the table.
Moyes’ men have collected just two points from their first eight games and face another grim battle for Premier League survival.
The former Everton and Manchester United boss can point to mitigating factors such as eight players out injured, but after narrowly avoiding relegation for the last four years, Moyes will have to produce something special to keep Sunderland up again.
He was desperately trying to remain positive after another dispiriting afternoon as he waits for his first league win since taking charge in the summer.
“I didn’t think we played as badly as the 2-0 at half-time suggested, but we conceded two terrible goals,” he rued.
“We’re just looking for that win to give us a lift and a bit of momentum and something to start from. That’s the hard bit.
“We have to try to keep going and show that we can get a result. The club has been in this position many times, so it’s not something they are not used to facing.”
The international break had not done Moyes any favours on the injury front as he had lost three more players from the last game, including two in defence. The reshuffle did not help matters and their rejigged back four conceded a goal from Stoke’s first threatening attack.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s guided pass broke the offside trap and found Marko Arnautovic. The Austrian was given ample time to look up and pick out Allen, who ghosted in unchallenged to head home from five yards.
Allen had been a doubt after missing Wales’ game against Georgia last Sunday with a groin injury, but Hughes was relieved to have his £13 million signing back, and explained how Allen has added goals to his game.
“We made a change and pushed him further forward,” he said. “When you work with players day-in, day-out, you see they can do things you didn’t realise they could.
“Joe’s anticipation of where the ball is going to land was evident for all to see.
“If he then anticipates in the box, he’ll get on the end of things and that is what’s happening.” As ever, the Black Cats looked to Jermain Defoe for inspiration and it needed an excellent block from Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross to deny the striker an equaliser. But they were vulnerable at the other end as Arnautovic led a counter-attack, gave the ball to Wilfried Bony and steered one wide as he tried to get on the end of Bony’s cross.
There were further problems for the visitors as left-back Patrick van Aanholt limped off. But they got considerably worse as Stoke doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.
There was a major let-off as Jordan Pickford made a point-blank save to deny Geoff Cameron, but they buckled at the resulting corner. Shawcross’ header was cleared only as far as Allen and he fired a low shot through a crowd and past Pickford.
It was nearly three shortly after the resumption with Pickford called upon to make a fine save from Bony. Arnautovic then had a goal ruled out for offside and sub Charlie Adam rattled the bar with a late thunderbolt.
As for Sunderland, there was little of note going forward as the prospect of another bleak winter looms large on the horizon.