I just watched Sunderland's dismal defeat to Bournemouth - here's why it left me worried

Sunderland's Premier League campaign has been plunged into deep early trouble after a dismal showing at Bournemouth.

The Black Cats found themselves a goal and a man down inside 20 minutes as the impressive Evanilson caused havoc in the heart of the Sunderland defence, forcing a red card for Kevin Danso not long after teeing up Marcus Tavernier for the opener.

That unsurprisingly ushered in a period of dominance for Bournemouth and Sunderland's attempts at a second-half revival were undone by a loose Omar Alderete backpass minutes into the second half. At times Sunderland have been unfortunate this season but not so here. They were outrun, outfought and continued to make the defensive mistakes that have undermined their season so far. The platform and good basics that underpinned their surge to safety and seventh last season evaporated here, and they have lost four league games in a row.

This performance could barely have been timed worse for Régis Le Bris, who had made a number of surprise selection calls with Brian Brobbey still absent.

That Bournemouth, one of the most aggressive pressing sides in the division, would start with energy and intensity in a bid to get their first Premier League win of the season was obvious. It made Sunderland's pedestrian approach all the more surprising and concerning, the Black Cats second to every ball and challenge all over the pitch.

It is no exaggeration to say that the opening goal just five minutes in came as no surprise; Sunderland at that stage having already been caught out twice on the ball. They were undone by a simple ball forward, Danso and Alderete getting in almighty mess and the former bundled off the ball by Evanilson. The striker unselfishly squared a cross for Tavernier, who nodded home into an empty net on the stretch. VAR did check for a push on Danso by Evanilson, but decided there was no foul. Sunderland did begin to get their foot on the ball a little thereafter and nudged up the pitch, but were undone by another simple long ball forward. Again Danso and Alderete got themselves in a muddle, Danso dithering in possession and allowing Evanilson to race clear. The Austrian made a foul and was shown a straight red that was quickly cleared by VAR.

From there it was a matter of survival for Sunderland, who were probably on balance fortunate to make it to the break just one behind. Roefs made a smart save from Rayan at his near post, Adam Smith blazing over the bar with the goal gaping. The Dutchman had to be at his best throughout the rest of the half, making a good stop from close range as Rayan met a corner at the near post.

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The Black Cats did make it to half time without further damage and though he made no subs, Le Bris did switch to a back three. Sunderland enjoyed one brief spell of possession before conceding a second. There looked to be little trouble when Alderete gathered possession just inside his own half, but he left his attempted backpass well short and allowed Evanilson to round Roefs and score. Any hope of an unlikely comeback looked to have been extinguished, Roefs having to make a smart stop from Tavernier as Bournemouth assumed complete control.

More changes from Le Bris did steady the ship somewhat, but other than a brief flurry of set pieces they created little. Put simply, this has to be an early turning point in the season. Unless Sunderland get back to what made them successful last season, they are in genuine trouble. Bournemouth ended the game with an XG over four here, their record in the Premier League. The red was a big factor in that, but reflects how far Sunderland were away from their foundations.