The changes Jack Ross could realistically make as he looks to get Sunderland back on track

The Black Cats boss knows that the habit of conceding both early in games and from set pieces is hurting his team’s chances.

He wants to see them improve their physicality, saying: “I think physically we’re wilting in that opening period.

“I don’t think we’re preparing ourselves for contact enough and preparing ourselves to use our bodies in that period.

“Sometimes you don’t realise how physical the game is and that’s at all levels. Even teams that pop it about still have a physicality about them.

“That’s not because we’ve not got physicality because that team on Saturday was arguably getting towards the biggest and strongest we’ve named in an actual physical sense. We just need to get better at that.

“We’re probably encouraging teams to gain territory. That’s something we’ve psoken about and practised but they need to then produce it out on the pitch.”

He also admits, however, that he is still searching for the right formula in terms of his starting XI.

So what changes can he realistically make, both in terms of personnel and system?

We run through three options...

Bring in Flanagan

Sunderland were noticeably poor in the full-back department at the Pirelli Stadium and it was no surprise that the first goal came as Bryan Oviedo was easily beaten to the byline by Marvin Sordell.

Oviedo, of course, had been a doubt for the game due to his international commitments and so he would be expected to improve come Saturday.

On the other flank, however, Tom Flanagan’s time has surely arrived.

He may not be a natural going forward but he is vocal and will improve Sunderland’s set pieces both in defence and in attack.

Even a short cameo against Fleetwood Town showed that, almost scoring from a corner late on.

The lopsided 3-5-2 Ross used earlier in the season looks perfect for Flanagan, offering additional cover to the centre-backs and allowing Oviedo to stay high where he can hurt opponents.