LEE CATTERMOLE has called for fans to be patient while Gus Poyet works on transforming Sunderland’s fortunes, but insists the Uruguayan is the right man to turn things around.

The Black Cats made a solid if unspectacular return to action at the Stadium of Light by claiming a point at the end of a pretty dour goalless draw in which West Bromwich Albion did little to test the home side.

Sunderland could have done with a victory, but avoiding defeat provided encouragement and greater satisfaction after a week when the pressure had increased on Poyet.

The defeat to Bradford City in the FA Cup highlighted a split among the fans and suggested there were sections looking for chairman Ellis Short to change the manager again.

That prompted Poyet – who had incensed supporters with comments suggesting they were living in the past and blaming the media for taking his words out of context – to pen his letter to fans last Thursday.

Cattermole said: “The manager has been very honest. He has come out and said an awful lot. He wants the fans to know directly from him. I have been injured so I have had the time to have had a look at it and I think the club is improving.

“I am in and around it every day and I think this club is heading in the right direction. If anyone doubts that then you have to look at the whole picture and we are getting better. The whole club feels more stable. We just need to get the results.”

Sunderland have won just once in the Premier League since defeating Newcastle at St James’ Park before Christmas. That run has left them sitting just three points and two places above the relegation zone.

But Cattermole, never shy of saying what he thinks, is sure Short already has the manager capable of leading Sunderland in to a brighter future – it could just take time.

“I have seen him first hand. The results we have had under him ... let’s not forget what happened last season,” said Cattermole, after Poyet led a successful survival fight last time around as well as making the Capital One Cup final after the carnage of the Paolo Di Canio era.

“All the players, even the senior players, will say they have improved under him. It was only a year and a half ago that we had a big carry on at the club, it doesn’t happen overnight.

“You have to get players in and out. You have to be patient in football. The manager sent the letter and I think he is doing a very good job.”

Sunderland go to stuttering Manchester United this Saturday, followed by strugglers Hull City and Aston Villa.

Cattermole said: “There are no doubts among us; we are all pushing in the same direction. We have to make sure we finish this season well. The Premier League is going to get stronger and stronger. It is such a big effort just to stay in the league.

“It is a tight league. I think we are two points off 12th and that would be a good achievement if we could finish there, we have had a lot more draws this year but we are definitely more solid now. All the lads are behind the manager we just have to keep pushing.”

Poyet gambled on the fitness of Cattermole. The former Wigan and Middlesbrough midfielder was thrust straight into the midfield despite a shortage of match fitness following knee and groin trouble.

The 26-year-old felt fine, but was disappointed Sunderland had to settle for a point, but said: “It was a good week’s training for me, I did a bit of running and trained with the boys, so the manager decided to play me and I was happy. We pushed West Brom all the way and on another day the lino gets it right and Jonno’s goal stands; and they could have had a man sent off.

“Again we have scored a goal that was given offside. We have had that and we can’t be drawn in to any doubt about the manager. There is no-one thinking like that inside the club. We have shown last season we can finish strongly and we are looking more solid.”