Sunderland vs Middlesbrough - David Moyes wants to entertain

Posted Saturday, August 20, 2016 by PA

David Moyes will be happy to win "ugly" if he has to as he attempts to build his brave new world at Sunderland.

The Scot embarked upon a long-term project when he picked up the reins released by Sam Allardyce during the summer and set about the task of trying to ensure the Black Cats do not find themselves embroiled in a fifth successive fight for Premier League survival.

However, while knowing what the club is able to do over the remaining days of the transfer window could have a significant say in how the season pans out, Moyes has been boosted by his team's performance in defeat at Manchester City last weekend and will head into Sunday's derby showdown versus promoted Middlesbrough with only one aim.

He said: "As far as I'm concerned, the only thing I am interested in is winning, and it always has been. I hope to be able to do it in an entertaining fashion, but if I can't, I'll do it in an ugly fashion if I have to.

"While we are building and there's a little bit of transformation going on right now, it's a little bit of uncertainty exactly how things are going.

"I don't think you can get it quickly. I don't think it's just in this building, all around the city, we are used to bobbing along the bottom and I have to change that as well.

"But the only way I can change that is by getting a team on the pitch with the supporters' trust and believing they can see it going in the right direction."

Moyes has made no secret of his desire to recruit young players - he returned to former club Manchester United last week to land Paddy McNair, Donald Love and Adnan Januzaj, the latter on a season-long loan deal.

However, he was indebted to 35-year-old John O'Shea for his performance in a now unaccustomed midfield role at the Etihad Stadium and having added Everton old boy Steven Pienaar to his squad, is aware of the value of experience too.

The manager said: "Look, John will not play all the games, that's obvious, and we will always try to look to replace when people are getting older.

"But I have added Steven Pienaar to the group because I do need people with a little bit of experience and people who will give us that experience at times when maybe the younger players can't."

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka will demand his players pay extra attention to Sunderland's veteran striker Jermain Defoe at the Stadium of Light.

Defoe's 15 Premier League goals last season helped ensure another relegation escape for Sunderland - he scored five in their last nine games - and there were calls for the 33-year-old to be included in England's Euro 2016 finals squad.

"It's difficult to stop him because he's the kind of player, when you're always behind him it's easy to mark him but, I don't know why, he scores every single week," Karanka said.

"So for that reason it's going to be difficult. We have to keep our concentration for 95 minutes because he's the kind of player who, if you miss your concentration for one second, he'll take advantage. He's a really dangerous player."

Boro are Sunderland's closest rivals in the top flight this season following Newcastle's relegation and Karanka is aware his side are not only chasing their first win following promotion in May.

"I can't say a lot of things as it's my first derby," he said. "But since I arrived here I've heard how big and important this game is for everyone.

"It's my first derby, it's an important game for everybody but for us it's three points.

"We needs points in the Premier League and we know it'll be a difficult game. But we have to think it's just three points."