Unsettled Cats defence a problem admits Michael Turner

Dec 8 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

MICHAEL Turner admits that the lack of a settled back four is making it difficult for Sunderland’s defenders to find their rhythm.

But he believes Steve Bruce has no choice but to keep chopping and changing as he looks for a central defensive partnership capable of cutting out the errors undermining the Black Cats’ season. Turner has been one of the few constants in the Sunderland defence since his £4m transfer from Hull.

But with injuries and up and down form wreaking havoc with Bruce’s plans, the former Tiger has played alongside four different central defensive partners since arriving on Wearside. Paulo Da Silva was axed at Fulham after his nightmare at Wigan but his replacement Anton Ferdinand endured a rocky half-hour before suffering an ankle injury that is likely to rule him out for a fortnight.

Replacement Nyron Nosworthy was in the wars too as Sunderland struggled to cope with Bobby Zamora’s brawn at Craven Cottage, and Bruce is now contemplating another reshuffle for the visit of struggling Portsmouth.

It is hardly ideal for a Sunderland side in the first phase of a major rebuilding job – but Turner acknowledges that his manager’s hand has been

forced by the inconsistency shown by his defenders.

“The manager has chopped and changed and that doesn’t help but it’s just one of those things,” he said.

“We’d like to keep the same back four for a run of games – the manager probably would.

“It would help because we could get to know each other and it does make it a bit harder when things keep changing.

“But it’s up to the manager to make those decisions and we’ve got to do better if we want to stay in the team.