SUNDERLAND midfielder Craig Gardner has labelled suggestions Steve Bruce's side are struggling as "ridiculous" and believes it is only a matter of time before their quality comes out.

After a summer of spending and rebuilding, the feeling on Wearside ahead of the season was extremely positive.

However, with the Black Cats still looking for their first win after four games, that feeling has all but disappeared and subsequently been replaced by discontent.

Boos echoed around the Stadium of Light after the defeat to Newcastle United, while fans also voiced their concerns at the end of the goalless draw at Swansea and Saturday's defeat to Chelsea.

But Gardner - one of nine players to arrive at the club during the summer - says it is ridiculous that some are already writing off the Black Cats so early in the season.

"I don't understand why people are saying we're struggling because at the end of the day we're not," the 24-year-old said.

"We're four games into the season - it's ridiculous. People are writing us off - there's no way you can write us off.

"We're playing well, we're just lacking a couple of goals which will come.

"We're a top quality team and there's four games gone. I can't believe it. To be honest, I think people are jumping on the bandwagon.

"We haven't played that badly, we're not struggling. We're four games into the season, we've got two points and we've played Newcastle and Chelsea at home. We've actually had two good results away from home.

"Over the course of the season, the quality comes out. If you look at the signings Sunderland have made this summer and the quality we've already got, there's quality there in abundance.

"The players we've brought in - look at them. There's experience, there's youth, there's pace, there's creativity.

"There's no way we're going to struggle at the bottom there.

"The reaction of the supporters doesn't surprise me. It's a big club, there's high expectations and that's why I came here. I've got high expectations too - and I'm probably speaking for all of the lads who came in over the summer.

"We want to win, the manager wants to and the supporters too. We now need to take that onto the pitch and show the fans what we can do."

After starting the campaign on the bench, Gardner has been in Bruce's last three starting line ups.

Last season, Sunderland relied heavily on their strikers for goals and the Black Cats boss will hope Gardner - a £5m signing from Birmingham City - can repeat his impressive goalscoring record from midfield on Wearside.

Although he has not yet managed to find the back of the net, the Solihull-born midifelder hopes he has done enough to keep his place.

He said: "The gaffer has given me a chance and I think I've done enough, well I hope I've done enough, just to stay in the side.

"We've had a tough start, the derby, Chelsea at home and Liverpool away, and we just need to keep on fighting and fighting and fighting. We've got the spirit in the squad to do it, we'll get some points on the board."

Stoke are next up at the Stadium of Light on Sunday and Gardner is confident his side can record their first win against the Potters.

Tony Pulis' men are known for their direct, physical approach, but Gardner insists the Black Cats are more than capable of getting a result.

Gardner said: "They won't want to come to the Stadium of Light either. They won't fancy it. They'll play the long ball, they'll be direct and work hard but we'll look to combat that.

"There's a few lads there we know but the points are more important than the faces.

"Every game appeals to me. You need to adapt to different styles of play - they'll try and play but they'll play the long ball as well.

"We need to compete and try and win every ball. It's up to us to fight - we've got the players and the determination to do it."

Meanwhile, Sunderland have confirmed they will not appeal the Football Association's charge against Phil Bardsley.

He was charged with violent conduct after the FA reviewed footage from Saturday's defeat to Chelsea, in which the defender appears to stamp on Blues midfielder Juan Mata.

The 25-year-old now faces a four-match ban, which will come into effect on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sunday's opponents will rest record signing Peter Crouch for this evening's Europa League clash with Dynamo Kiev.

He sat out training after making his debut against Liverpool on Saturday and has not travelled to Ukraine, along with Matthew Etherington (back), Rory Delap (groin) and Marc Wilson (hamstring).

Jonathan Woodgate is not part of Stoke's Europa League squad and Asmir Begovic has been rested.