IT was not the end to the year Sunderland, nor David Moyes, had wanted at Turf Moor. But Andre Gray’s hat-trick, followed by a penalty from Ashley Barnes, before Jermain Defoe scored, has only heightened relegation concerns ahead of January.

Here are four of the main talking points from the Black Cats’ latest sorry afternoon in the Premier League.

ABSENCE OF LAMINE

Whether Lamine Kone is injured for the long term, the short term or he heads away to the Africa Cup of Nations, this performance offered a glimpse of what could be to come without him.

The big Ivorian had recaptured his better form during Sunderland’s recent mini-revival and it was no coincidence that when he was forced off through injury that the backline lost its way.

All four goals came from an error or two, and Papy Djilobodji resembled the calamitous figure he had earlier in the season once again. There needs to be improvements, with our without Kone.

ARE YOU WATCHING?

WHEN the fourth goal went in for Burnley, you could hear ‘are you watching Ellis Short?’ being sang from the away end. It’s little surprise either.

If Sunderland are to climb out of the bottom three then David Moyes is going to need some help, financially, from the boardroom. Will he get it? It’s doubted.

Kone will be absent one way or another, but so too will Victor Anichebe after his injury blow. How can this Sunderland squad cope without him? The Nigerian has been one of the main reasons for the mine-revival recently.

Either way, Moyes needs options and he doesn’t have them. Picking a team to face Liverpool on Monday will be hard enough.

LACK OF MIDFIELD OPTIONS

Another real area of concern is the midfield and it is hard to see how Moyes can bring a spark back to the middle, particularly during the month of January.

Didier Ndong will be heading away on international duty, while Jason Denayer had to be rested as a precaution because of a thigh problem. He might have to play centre-back, though, given the problems.

Then there is fit again Steven Pienaar, the experienced midfielder who has performed well as a free agent, but he was guilty of gifting the third to Burnley after his recall to action from the bench.

Jack Rodwell, who still hasn’t won a game when he has started for Sunderland, will need to find a way to help the team quickly after recovering from his own injury problem; after all Paddy McNair, Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff will not be around to help much.

THE TRUE COST OF DEFEAT

Sunderland had won four of their previous seven games before the Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United. Now they have lost two in a row.

Losing at Old Trafford does not dent confidence too much, but a crushing 4-1 reversal at a Burnley side many believe are contenders to go down will be.

Moyes must somehow lift the players he does have available in January to try to get results, with all of the sides above them showing signs they may be able to pick up points.

Sunderland can’t lose heart now and it looked as if they did when the goals kept flying in, but this will be hard to swallow and it’s hardly as if there are plenty of players to make changes.

MANAGERIAL REACTION

David Moyes said: “Defensively frailties cost us. We couldn’t cope with a bit of an old fashioned English style, we didn’t deal with the ball over the top well. The first one, two of them went for the same ball and I think we should save it as well.

“I thought we started reasonably well and then losing Lamine Kone was a big blow. Victor Anichebe looks like he has pulled his hamstring and we will have to check with the medical team. We have been doing OK. I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance defensively.

"We have always said if we could strengthen we would do, but everyone knows we have constraints.

“We have got what we got and we need help, let’s hope something happens and we can do that. The fans know the situation and Ellis has said let’s see what’s out there.”