There's nothing Fab about Sunderland's scoring problems

ALMOST a month after the transfer window closed, Fabio Borini still figures prominently on Gustavo Poyet’s mind.

Six matches in to the new Premier League season and, after another afternoon when the strikers failed to hit the mark, Borini is still being mentioned by the man who spent the vast majority of the summer banking on the Italian returning to Wearside.

But if the Uruguayan head coach fails to come up with a way of ensuring his forwards make up for the absence of last season’s joint leading scorer before the turn of the year, the Black Cats will be firmly embroiled in a relegation battle at the start of 2015.

For the first time this season, Sunderland actually looked effective and dangerous by turning in the best performance so far. The problem of scoring goals, however, remains.

With Connor Wickham struggling to rediscover the sort of form which helped to keep Sunderland up in April, Steven Fletcher still to score this year, Poyet is left wondering when a striker will score a league goal.

Both Wickham and Fletcher missed fantastic opportunities in the closing stages of Saturday’s goalless draw with Swansea City; the fifth time from six that Sunderland have ended up with a point already this season.

Poyet clearly thinks the best system to suit his Sunderland squad is to play with one striker, but playing in that way requires other players to chip in with the goals, particularly if the striker is not finding the net himself. He could tinker with the formation, but he would prefer not to.

“There is no concern,” said the Sunderland boss. “My idea was to start with Connor and Fletcher together at the start of the season, but we had to change it. With this shape, two wingers, I think we are better.

“But we are missing a goal; that is the difference. With Fabio (Borini) he gave us half a winger and half a striker. That’s why he was important to us. Now I think it is a great chance for a player to be the one who puts the ball in the net and make us a better team.”

After another afternoon of frustration at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland are still waiting for a striker to get off the mark this season and there is not a player who has registered two goals so far in the opening six weeks.

Sunderland did turn in a much-improved display against Swansea, though, creating plenty of chances and making life difficult for the visitors for the majority of the afternoon. Such a performance has convinced Poyet that the current way remains the best way.

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, who lined up for Swansea after spending last season on loan at Sunderland, thinks that Poyet is the right man to get Sunderland ticking over the long term but there will be no quick fix.

“When Gus came in he tried to build a team with a passing game,” said Ki. “The style has changed under him. Last year sometimes it worked and sometimes not. They passed the ball around against us but they were not against a Swansea side at their best. If Sunderland continue working hard they will be a better team because the quality of players is there.

“The players must keep training and keep listening to what Gus Poyet has to say. Don't forget Swansea have had this style a long time now and it doesn't happen straight away.Swansea have tried to play this type of game all the time not just one season like Sunderland. It takes time to get it right.”

Swansea, who had full-back Angel Rangel sent off for a second yellow card ten minutes from the end, only recorded one decent effort on target when Gylfi Sigurdsson was denied by Vito Mannone. Other than that, Sunderland did all of the attacking without scoring.

The most encouraging aspect of Sunderland’s display was how wingers Will Buckley and then Ricky Alvarez, a second half substitute, posed a threat with their direct running. But it was the wayward close-range headers from Wickham and Fletcher which proved most costly at such a crucial stage of the game.

Poyet said: “Connor’s overall game was great; he got the ball well, he passed the ball well, he created chances for himself, he was in the box more than ever. It’s that last touch. I even moved my head for the late header. I tried to head it with him.

“I can’t put the ball in the net. I wanted to go in the box for the last corner, but that is not allowed! That is the best moment to score for a striker to have a chance in the last minute with a corner coming in. You will him to score. But it wasn’t there ... but I am happy.”