Sunderland have dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after four consecutive defeats in the competition

Régis Le Bris has challenged his Sunderland players to bounce back and show the level they produced last season following their defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday.

The Black Cats fell behind within five minutes as the defensive lapses that have cost them all season recurred, with Kevin Danso then shown a red card before 20 minutes had been played in the game. Evanilson added a second shortly after half time following another Black Cats error and in truth, the gap could between the two sides could have been far greater had the hosts been more clinical in front of goal.

The result pushed Sunderland further into the relegation zone in the early Premier League table and was the club's fourth defeat in a row in that competition. Le Bris said his side had fallen well short of the level required and had to show the same level of resilience they demonstrated following promotion last season.

"We are in the Premier League with a busy schedule and we want to embrace it," Le Bris said.

"Footballers at this level have to show resilience and in the past, we have done it. This down is really hard because we don't like it, but at this level you have to manage those situations. I hope really soon we'll react, we'll show that we are Sunderland, we are proud, we have energy, we can win duels and do the simple things well because we have done this in the past.

"I told the players and they are agreed that we were not at the level and it was unacceptable. Our life is like that, you can have a knockout and you have to stand and go again. It's the life of a footballer at this level, we'll rest, reset and go again."

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Sunderland face Lech Poznan in Poland on Thursday night before a huge game against Leeds United at home on Sunday afternoon. Le Bris is likely to rotate his side heavily again for the Europa League fixture, making seven changes in Leiria as Sunderland won 2-1 against SCU Torreense.

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