ANOTHER defeat, more mistakes, no new signings and a player facing a likely ban - David Moyes’ problems continue to mount.

The Sunderland manager saw familiar failings bring a familiar outcome in the Midlands, where Sunderland allowed West Bromwich Albion to cruise to a comfortable victory without having to extend themselves.

Two excellent goals from the hosts were aided by dismal defending from the Black Cats, whose numbers could be depleted further once the FA deal with Papy Djilobodji.

The Senegalese defender struck West Brom captain Darren Fletcher with two hands to the chin as they grappled for space at a late free-kick and, unless referee Craig Pawson reveals that he witnessed the incident on the field, the Sunderland man can expect to have his collar felt today by the authorities.

That would leave Moyes with another headache in a season that shows few signs of an upturn.

Defender Billy Jones conceded: “You can’t afford to have those sloppy goals in Premier League games whether they come from individual mistakes or a few mistakes.

“You need to make it hard for teams in this league to create everything and if we’re giving away those goals we are making it hard for ourselves from the get-go.

“We’re disappointed from that point of view and it hasn’t just been today, it’s been in previous games as well.

“The club have been honest and the manager has come out and said it so we know as a group that there may not be many bodies coming in.

“So we’re looking forward to everyone being fit, but we need to make sure the group we’ve got now, who are fit, produce and get the results so when lads come back we can kick on from there.”

There was little between the sides in the opening 20 minutes although West Brom enjoyed the better of the chances.

Brunt miscued a shot well wide from the edge of the penalty area after Djilobodji had dealt well with a dangerous cross by Nacer Chadli.

And Vito Mannone in the Sunderland goal showed safe handling to deal with a skidding, long-range effort from Chadli by his ankles.

The hosts build up some momentum as the first half progressed and Sunderland had a serious let-off on 28 minutes when Chadli found space on the left and his chipped cross was headed goalwards by Salomon Rondon.

But the striker’s effort struck the body of unfortunate team-mate Matt Phillips and ricocheted wide.

Moments later Mannone did well to turn a low shot by Phillips around the post, but the resulting corner brought the opening goal.

Jones’ clearance was headed back towards goal by Gareth McAuley and Fletcher showed composure to bring the ball down with his chest and finish crisply on the turn with his left foot after Patrick van Aanholt had failed to close him down.

It took just six minutes for the second goal to arrive with a move that began with Phillips skipping too easily past John O’Shea.

His cross was parried by Mannone and the chance appeared to be gone when Chadli thudded a shot against the crossbar, but Brunt followed it up with a superb left-footed strike to beat the keeper from just inside the area.

Sunderland won a couple of free-kicks early in the second half but both were wasted by van Aanholt.

But there was little urgency the visitors’ play and West Brom threatened twice, first when Phillips cut in from the right and flashed a shot just wide and then when his corner was headed wide by Craig Dawson.

A chance arrived for Sunderland on 71 minutes when Larsson peeled out wide and crossed for Jones, racing forward from right-back, but the ex-West Brom defender gave former team-mate Ben Foster an easy save.

But it was West Brom who ended the game on the front foot with James McClean and Phillips sending dangerous crosses that might have brought a third goal.

Sunderland fans let their feelings be known, with owner Ellis Short and the team targeted by cutting terrace chants.

“The fans have their right to feel frustrated with the position we’re in,” conceded Jones.

“We feel their frustration and we feel for them.

“They back us home and away and travel a lot of miles and give us great support and when the performances aren’t there they are within their rights to be angry.

“We need to improve and we know that and if we do the fans will back us all the way.

“It comes from hard work and the basics - basics being not making individual silly mistakes and letting in sloppy goals.

“It’s about being hard to beat, working hard to get on the ball, first and second balls, matching the team and winning your individual battles - just all the simple stuff.

“If you do that to start with you give yourself a chance, then you need the quality in the final third to win the game and keep a clean sheet from a defensive point of view.

“Doing all those basics that we haven’t done well enough and what we know we need to do better, and with that we will get confidence and improve our performance.”