DICK ADVOCAAT believes he still has the backing of Wearside as he attempts to lift Sunderland out of the relegation zone and on to brighter times after a depressing run of years.

The Black Cats head to Manchester United today knowing that the task to finally win a Premier League game this season will be a difficult one.

Sunderland are without a victory in six since the start of the new campaign and defensive concerns have increased fears of a drop in to the Championship next May.

Worries were hardly helped on Tuesday when Manchester City's star-studded line-up brushed them aside with four goals inside the opening 45 minutes in a Capital One Cup third round tie.

Those strikes took the tally to goals conceded from Sunderland in the first half of games to 17 this season alone, just days after they had lost at Bournemouth in the league.

But the man who turned the team's fortunes around during a nine match spell earlier this year is confident that Sunderland's supporters still back him.

He said: “Last season doesn’t count any more, I did a good job by the way! I can totally understand the fans because they can be angry and disappointed.

“But the good thing for the fans is that we will come good because I think they still believe in me and the squad as well. But we need a little bit more. We have to look in the mirror to improve and that’s important.”

Advocaat has been encouraged by the reception he has received from the man in the street during the frustrating start, with the supporters knowing all about his pedigree and his managerial CV after years managing at the highest level.

Such a record was brilliant for the club when they needed it last season and, after the additions in the transfer market during the summer, he is satisfied with the shape of the squad.

He was a relaxed figure at the Academy of Light as he chatted about the past and future. He said: “It is not a good idea to sit here and start worrying, be negative. It is better to be positive, same as I was last year.

“Everyone thought last year we had no chance. I kept saying every day ‘let them write what they like and we will do it’ and they did it. The players know what they are doing and I have the same confidence we can do it.

“If I start to think negatively then we have no chance at all. I see things as well, what I see is that we are playing much more attractive football than the last few years.

“The opposite thing is that we are giving so many opportunities to the other team and that is not normal; individual mistakes, what can we do about that.”

Jermain Defoe has a doubt about his hamstring going in to the trip to United, so Fabio Borini could find himself playing centrally or on the left. Younes Kaboul is also available after suspension so can slot back in alongside John O’Shea.

Advocaat said: “I believe in this squad, I have no doubts about that. You get to know each other much better.

“The ones who where here last year and the new ones take time to get to know each other, you get a different feel about the squad.

“But you can only make it easier for yourself and the team by winning games. That’s what it is all about and cutting out the individual errors and winning.”

The problem Advocaat is facing is trying to come up with a system to suit the players he has. He suggested Borini was bought before the transfer deadline and it was only then that he knew “he could play centrally” as a forward.

He said: “I am a believer in 4-3-3 because everyone understands that it is simple and easy. But I believe in this squad.

“We have brought some players in and we have to wonder if 4-3-3 is the right system to play that’s what we have to find out. You can’t change from one day to the next; one week’s training doesn’t matter.

“I am not worried. Even the way we play now, at Bournemouth or last Tuesday, and Spurs, we saw some moments to make me think they are doing that. It is important that they are all happy in the way we play and we have to find out what is best for this squad.”