Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon is confident his side will turn their season around as long as they can replicate Sunday’s performance against Tottenham.

The Black Cats lost 1-0 to Spurs at the Stadium of Light, meaning they have taken just two points from their opening five league matches and only remain off the bottom of the Premier League table on goal difference.

In total Dick Advocaat’s side have gone eight league games without a win in a run that stretches back to the end of last season, but despite this their Romanian stopper is convinced they will soon return to winning ways if they can continue to perform like they did against the Lilywhites.

He said: “We missed good chances but I think we played well against Spurs. Sometimes it’s like this but the best thing about that game was that we improved our game, we started fighting and started working like a proper team. We played some great football in my opinion.”

The former Manchester City player believes it is important the squad always take the positives out of any match, although he has not lost sight of the fact that the team must improve their results soon.

He continued: “It’s true that we lost the game and we don’t forget that but the best thing in this kind of situation is to think positively. If we can play exactly like we did against Spurs in our future games, we should be okay.”

The Wearsiders return to action on Saturday when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on newly promoted Bournemouth and they are outsiders at 5.50 to secure their first three points of the campaign, whilst the hosts are available 1.62 and the draw is a 3.75 shout.