Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat ready to ring the changes

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat

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Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat has highlighted defence as a key area of concern after a disappointing start to the new season.

The Wearside outfit lost their opening game of the season 4-2 at Leicester and followed that up with a 3-1 defeat at home to promoted Norwich.

Advocaat decided to give his new-look defence a second chance against the Canaries despite their struggles against the Foxes. but the Dutchman has indicated he is planning changes for the visit of Swansea this weekend.

He told the Shields Gazette: “I didn’t want to change the back-line already after one game. But at the moment, there are players playing who I can’t understand why they are playing that way. I cannot understand it, honestly.”

John O’Shea and summer recruit Adam Matthews are pushing for a place in the Sunderland starting line-up ahead of the clash with the Swans, with either Younes Kaboul or Sebastian Coates, or possibly both, likely to be replaced.

Advocaat also revealed he has told his full-backs to focus on defence for the time being, rather than pushing forward at every available opportunity.

He added: “I spoke to the players and told them that we like full-backs, who if the possibility comes, they go forward.

“But I’ve changed that. I’ve now set up a different way. The first way for the back four is now defence.

“And then the opponent cannot get the kind of space they got at Leicester. Take care of your man, and beside that, if you can do a little bit more, then go forwards, otherwise not. We have to change the basic facts.”

Sunderland are 3.80 to take all three points when Swansea visit on Saturday or 8.00 in the match result and both teams to score market. Swansea are 2.05 to secure victory and the draw is 3.40.

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