Sunderland will learn the lessons of their opening-day defeat to Leicester City, according to striker Steven Fletcher.

The Black Cats were dismantled in emphatic fashion at the King Power Stadium as Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes raced into a three-goal lead after just 25 minutes.

Sunderland recovered somewhat after the interval with Jermain Defoe and Fletcher netting either side of Marc Albrighton’s goal for the hosts.

It was a painful opening encounter for Dick Advocaat’s troops but Fletcher says they can absorb the lessons of the defeat and the Scotland international felt the game could have been much different early on.

“We should have taken the lead after three minutes with a header and then there were two crosses which you can’t defend against,” Fletcher told the Sunderland website.

“They were also two good finishes and from that point we were on the back foot, but we had a few words at half-time and I thought we were better after the break.

“We will sort it out at and see where we went wrong at the start of the week to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Fletcher managed just five goals last season as Sunderland were forced to fight off relegation late in the campaign. The ex-Hibernian frontman was pleased to get off the mark at the first time of asking this time around, despite the defeat.

“It was nice for myself to get a goal because I got one at the end of last season and I wanted to start the same way, so I have to carry that on now and take it into next weekend,” he added.

Sunderland welcome Norwich to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, a game the hosts are 2.40 to win.