Lee Cattermole return to boost Black Cats

Dec 10 2009 By Stuart Rayner, The Journal

The sloppy goal gifted to Fulham’s Bobby Zamora on Sunday highlighted the flaws in a defence Bruce still appears uneasy with, judging by his failure to settle on a back four.

Zenden was keen to stress others must share the blame.

"If you lose a game the way we lost at Birmingham then you have not done what you are capable of and you feel as if you have let the fans down," he admitted.

"But it is a collective performance. If one player has a bad day then there are ten others to lift them up. If the majority is not at their best there is a problem.

"There is no sense in just pointing the finger at one person, it is a team game and that is why as a team we have to sort it out."

Sunderland’s home form has been so good people are wondering if a lack of application is behind the failure to replicate it elsewhere.

Zenden insists the players are determined to put matters right.

"It is something to talk about and a problem we have to sort out," he said. "It is disappointing for us and more disappointing for the fans who are traveling down.

"The supporters are always there and we should give them what they came for.

"If you compare the away form with the home form it is remarkable and that is why everyone is talking about it. We’ve had a few chats with the players and the manager trying to address the problem, and have come up with a few solutions but I think it is better we keep them to ourselves.

"We feel bad about it and it is something we are not taking lightly, neither does the manager.

"He is unhappy with our situation, more so because we are capable of doing good things at home.

"But it is definitely something we are working on and we have to get it sorted."