England's defeat in Belfast in midweek gave a new lease of life to the footballing underdog and, with that victory firmly in mind, the Black Cats boarded their plane for the capital believing a change in fortune was about to swing their way after four consecutive defeats.

Sunderland certainly set about the task of winning their first top flight match in 20 with vigorous zeal and more than held their own against a strangely lethargic Chelsea for long periods of the match.

But just when the travelling faithful thought a result was possible, the Wearsiders were handed yet another harsh lesson of how cruel life in the Premiership can be when you - literally in Andy Welsh's case - take your eye off the ball.

Manager Mick McCarthy admitted his side acquitted themselves admirably at Stamford Bridge but says it doesn't make the defeat any easier to swallow.

"I thought we played well enough, certainly in the first half," said a bullish McCarthy. "I thought we started the second half OK but, as I've said in the four games prior to the Chelsea one, if we make mistakes we will get punished.

"In the first half they didn't look that much better than us.

"I always thought they could step up a bit and I still think they'll win the league. I said that at the start of the season and I haven't changed my mind.

"I am pleased with the way my players competed but I can't be feeling great about it because we got beat.

"It's OK saying we did okay and we played well but looking for sympathy isn't in my brief and the only way we can make it right is by winning a game. We've got West Brom on Saturday and it is another really big fixture."

The game's turning point was undoubtedly Welsh's 54th minute gaffe. Although - as the Black Cats boss pointed out - Chelsea were well capable of finding another gear, aside from a Frank Lampard effort crashing against the crossbar three minutes earlier, they rarely threatened with the Sunderland defence superbly marshalled by Gary Breen and Alan Stubbs.

Welsh, a 51st minute substitute for Stubbs, failed to control Kelvin Davis' throw and Geremi seized on the opportunity to rifle a shot past the despairing Sunderland goalkeeper.

"Unfortunately it was a double error," added McCarthy. "We gave the ball away, which allowed Geremi to get a shot in and then Kelvin should have saved it. He's come in and held his hands up but we know he is better than that. But that is what has cost us. You make mistakes and you get punished."

The Sunderland boss refused to point the finger at Welsh despite his mistake handing the initiative to the home side.

"Welshy is a fantastic character," said McCarthy. "As I pointed out to him in the dressing room, and I'm not being derogatory towards him, he cost us £15,000 from Stockport. He's been brilliant. He helped us to get promoted and he's playing in the Premier League and he's put in some good performances. He shouldn't beat himself up. He was playing against a guy who has played in the World Cup. He made a mistake and he'll learn."

Despite the defeat the Sunderland manager can take positives from the game. His latest acquisitions Justin Hoyte and Christian Bassila both acquitted themselves admirably on their debuts against the Premiership title favourites.

Hoyte displayed maturity beyond his 20 years against an intimidating Blues attack. The on-loan Arsenal man began at left-back marking the flying machine that is Shaun Wright-Phillips.

That accomplished, Wright-Phillips' was substituted in the 56th minute. He then revealed his versatility when he comfortably slotted in at centre-back when Alan Stubbs had to leave the field with concussion.

Bassila was just as impressive. The Frenchman was employed in front of the Black Cats' back four and successfully frustrated the home side's attacking attempts by breaking up play and setting a solid defensive springboard for the visitors to get forward.

McCarthy admitted he was happy with how well his new signings made the transition to their new surroundings and believes there is more to come from the pair.

He said: "I think Justin Hoyte is going to be a really good signing for us and I thought Christian Bassila was excellent. He sat in front of the back four, didn't allow them to play and they didn't get too many chances against us until we gifted them opportunities."

The defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday leaves Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the Premiership without a point to their name.

No one on Wearside was kidding themselves about the enormity of McCarthy's task to keep the Black Cats in the Premiership before the season started but with the new season a little more than five games old you would have thought questions about survival were a little premature. One hack in London obviously does not however.

McCarthy, a little bemused by being patronised, said: "We've got to believe that (we can survive) and my parting shot to the players is we're two points behind Newcastle and three and four points behind others."

Result: Chelsea 2, Sunderland 0.

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