Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell has claimed that the team are struggling to improve due to the constant upheaval at the club.

David Moyes was appointed in the summer as a replacement for manager Sam Allardyce, who spent just eight months at the Stadium of Light before embarking on a failed stint as England boss.

This season, the Black Cats are struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table having failed to win any of their nine games so far.

"We probably have gone a bit backwards," Rodwell told The Chronicle. "It's not easy when you are chopping and changing all of the time, as players, as managers, but that's no excuse.

"We have a great manager here and we need to do it on the pitch. It's the 11 players on the pitch who have to do it. We have gone a bit backwards, but we are the ones who can put it right."

Sunderland, who were beaten in the 94th minute by West Ham United at the weekend, have picked up just two points so far this season.