Stuani double earns Middlesbrough 2-1 win at Sunderland

Sunderland replied through Patrick van Aanholt in the 71st minute, but Boro, promoted from the Championship in May, prevailed to record their first top-flight win over the Black Cats in over 10 years.

“The only thing we can do is work, as I have always said, work together, follow the manager”.

Sunderland manager David Moyes (right) with coaching staff during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. You have seen the players coming in – they obviously believe in what we are doing.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough defeated Sunderland 2-1 away thanks to a first-half double from Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani in the first Premier League meeting between the north-east rivals for nearly eight years. They’ve already missed out on six valuable points, which could well be the difference in the relegation race come the end of May. We have a lot of points to play for and we have to play like that every week.

“The attitude of the players was great”, said Moyes.

“But no excuse because we go out and we try to win and I thought the boys did try to win and I thought they really went to try and score in the second half and we were a bit unlucky we didn’t get an equaliser”. But just at that period where John went off, we really needed halftime.

“The second goal, I agree, we were poor in the second goal. It wasn’t an easy game for us given the nature of our team”.

“We’ve lost one of our centre-halves and we don’t have many, and we’ve lost a few players to injury”.

“We will add to it, I’ve said that”.

Moyes handed summer signings Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair and Papy Djilododji their home debuts, while Aitor Karanka also made three changes for the trip to Wearside, the most notable of which seeing goalkeeper Brad Guzan replace the injured Victor Valdes.

Pienaar, though, enjoyed a decent display showing that he still has what it takes to play in the Premier League at the age of 34. “But to come in 2-0 down, that made us flat, made it hard”.

Moyes admitted he was left with the “bare bones” and could not plug the gap left by O’Shea’s departure, but he was keen to draw positives from the defeat, before setting his sights on bringing in new recruits to the club.