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Sunderland tie record for worst ever Premier League start

By Jocelyn Taub

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal (R) celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his Arsenal team mates as Jermain Defoe (l) reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on October 29, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal (R) celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his Arsenal team mates as Jermain Defoe (l) reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on October 29, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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Sunderland tie the record for the worst start ever to a Premier League season. The Black Cats have just two points after ten matches.

Sunderland’s latest defeat increased the odds that David Moyes will be the next manager to be sacked. The club’s 1-4 loss to Arsenal leaves the Black Cats just two points total from the team’s first ten league matches.

Sunderland sit alone at the bottom of the table. Moyes has the dubious distinction of tying the record for the worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.

Back in 1995-1996, Manchester City also had two draws and eight losses after ten games. Of course this was prior to Manchester City being purchased by Sheikh Mansour.

Sunderland take the top slot with a -13 goal differential to City’s -12.

Of course there are still 28 games left to be played and things can change. However, history is not on Sunderland’s side. City did move up the table during the 95-96 season but an 18th place finish did not save the team from relegation.

WATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce during the Barclays Premier League match between Watford and Sunderland at Vicarage Road on May 15, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce during the Barclays Premier League match between Watford and Sunderland at Vicarage Road on May 15, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images) /

Sam Allardyce left Sunderland less than one month prior to the start of the season.

Before fans start piling on Moyes, remember that it was Sam Allardyce that left Sunderland in a tough position. The now former England manager left the Black Cats in late July. It was less than a month prior to the kick off of the new season. No one truly faulted Allardyce for accepting the role. However, after lasting just 67 days some Sunderland fans have expressed their anger.

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Moyes is of course feeling the heat. Prior to his brief tenure with Manchester United, the Sunderland boss had a lot of managerial experience. He was handpicked by the legendary Alex Ferguson based on more than ten successful seasons at the helm of Everton.

Allardyce was viewed by many Black Cats supporters as a sort of messiah by saving the club from the drop last season. When he left during preseason to take the England job, Allardyce did the club no favors. Moyes has been put in the unenviable position of having to take over from what his predecessor left behind. Time will tell if he’s given time to turn things around.

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