Sunderland moments missed: Chemsdine Talbi gesture, Kevin Danso blow and Nordi Mukiele verdict at Bournemouth
Sunderland's miserable Premier League run continued with a 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Régis Le Bris' side suffered their fourth successive league defeat after Marcus Tavernier's early opener, Kevin Danso's red card and another defensive mistake allowed Evanilson to double the hosts' advantage.
The result left Sunderland with plenty to consider ahead of another important week, with Lech Poznań visiting in the Europa League before Leeds United arrive at the Stadium of Light.
Here are some of the moments you might have missed before, during and after Sunderland's defeat on the south coast:
Le Bris makes surprise Sunderland selection calls
Le Bris made five changes from the side that defeated Torreense in Portugal, with several interesting decisions across his starting XI. Timur Tutierov retained his place up front and made his Premier League debut, with Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor both unavailable through injury.
Trai Hume was again deployed on the right wing, Enzo Le Fée returned to the left and Chris Rigg was handed his first Premier League start of the season in midfield. It meant Sunderland started without a natural winger, with Chemsdine Talbi, Malick Fofana and Nilson Angulo all named among the substitutes. Habib Diarra also returned to the Premier League matchday squad.
Danso suspension leaves Sunderland with another problem
Kevin Danso's afternoon lasted just 17 minutes after he was dismissed for bringing down Evanilson as the Bournemouth striker threatened to race through on goal. The decision was reviewed and upheld by VAR, leaving Sunderland with ten men after a disastrous opening to the contest.
Danso's dismissal for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity means he will serve a one-match domestic suspension, ruling him out of next Sunday's clash with Leeds. He will remain available for Thursday's Europa League fixture against Lech Poznań, but his absence next weekend presents Le Bris with another defensive headache.
With Dan Ballard still recovering from a hamstring injury, Sunderland could be forced into another reshuffle, potentially involving Luke O'Nien or Nordi Mukiele moving into central defence.
Talbi makes gesture to Sunderland supporters
One interesting moment came after the final whistle when Chemsdine Talbi made his way over to applaud Sunderland's travelling supporters. The winger remained outside to acknowledge the away end after his teammates had already headed back inside, despite once again being overlooked by Le Bris.
Join the Echo’s WhatsApp SAFC Channel for the latest news, team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join.
Talbi was an unused substitute at the Vitality Stadium, continuing a frustrating period for the Moroccan international, who delivered several important moments for Sunderland last season. His lack of involvement has become an increasingly prominent talking point among supporters online, with questions continuing to be raised about his place in Le Bris' plans. The 21-year-old was one of several attacking options available from the bench, but the Sunderland head coach again decided against introducing him.
Mukiele delivers brutal assessment
Nordi Mukiele did not hold back in his assessment of Sunderland's latest defeat, suggesting the players may have become complacent following last season's success. Speaking to Sky Sports, the defender admitted: "If I have to be honest with you, we are not good."
Mukiele even questioned whether Sunderland had become arrogant following their seventh-placed Premier League finish. "Maybe because we became arrogant, maybe. This is what I think," he said. The Frenchman insisted Sunderland needed to return to the basics that had brought them success last season, while acknowledging their current league position reflected their performances.