After Sunderland were thrashed 8-0 at Southampton, will Gus Poyet make significant changes to his team for the visit of Arsenal on Saturday. Steph Clark looks at five of the North-East’s Premier League heaviest defeats to see what managers did next and how the teams reacted

IF you were in Gus Poyet’s shoes, what team would you pick following one of the club’s most embarrassing defeats?

Would you give the side that shipped EIGHT goals without reply the chance to make up for their shambolic display, or would you ring the changes and drop as many players as you possible?

That is the conundrum facing the Black Cats manager this week even though limited options may make Poyet’s decision for him.

There are arguments for doing either, but what does history suggest is more effective?

Aston Villa 6 Sunderland 1
April 29, 2013

Back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Everton had given Paolo Di Canio and Sunderland hope they could avoid relegation, but a disastrous second half saw Villa score four and the Black Cats lose Stephane Sessegnon to a red card. Given Di Canio’s ways, you would have expected big changes for the visit of Stoke a week later, but the Italian made just two with James McClean and Jack Colback coming in for Phil Bardsley and Sessegnon. Sunderland achieved safety with draws against Stoke and then Southampton with Di Canio’s men seemingly coming together after their thrashing at Villa Park.

Newcastle 0 Liverpool 6
April 27, 2013

The worst home defeat since 1925 plunged struggling Newcastle back into the thick of a relegation battle. The result meant the Magpies sat five points clear of third-bottom Wigan with three games to play.

By the time an hour had been played at St James’ Park, Daniel Agger, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge had given the Reds an unassailable 4-0 lead with thousands walking out with half an hour left.

Pardew made four changes for the next game at West Ham but most of those were forced due to suspension or injury. The Magpies managed to tighten up at the back and earned a point in a goalless draw. In their next game – a win at Queens Park Rangers – they secured their Premier League safety.

Arsenal 7 Newcastle 3
December 29, 2012

AT half time it looked promising for Alan Pardew’s side, who went in at the break level after Demba Ba cancelled out Theo Walcott’s opener.

But in one of the most bizarre 45 minutes of football, Newcastle shipped a further six goals yet scored two more themselves. It went 2-1 to 2-2, 3-2 to 3-3, before the Magpies backline capitulated and conceded four goals in the last 17 minutes.

Pardew opted against making significant changes for their next game against Everton. Danny Simpson dropped out after breaking a toe, while Demba Ba was left out days before he moved to Chelsea with the only unforced change seeing Vurnon Anita replace Gael Bigirimana. Newcastle lost 2-1 to Everton in their next game and went a further four matches without winning after their heavy defeat at the Emirates.

Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2
January 16, 2010

A depleted Sunderland turned up to Stamford Bridge without eight first-team players due to injury, suspension and the African Cup of Nations and by half-time they were 4-0 down. A stunning display saw Chelsea score three more while Bolo Zenden and Darren Bent contributed consolations. Steve Bruce made four changes for the trip to Portsmouth in the FA Cup a week later, but despite some players returning his side failed to bounce back from their thrashing and would go another seven games without a win.

Everton 7 Sunderland 1
November 24, 2007

Gus Poyet described Saturday’s defeat to Southampton as the most embarrassing of his career and Roy Keane said similar when his side were dismantled by Everton. Trailing 3-1 at half-time there was no sign of a fightback at Goodison Park with four more goals coming after the break. Keane rung the changes for the next game against Derby making five in total and his side responded with a 1-0 win, although the winner came in the 90th minute from Anthony Stokes. Their response was short-lived, though, with the Black Cats losing three of their next four.

Arsenal 7 Middlesbrough 0
January 14, 2006

At a time Steve McClaren was being touted as the next England boss, this was not the result he would have wanted in front of the London press. McClaren cited an inexperienced back four as a big reason behind the scoreline at Highbury. Three-down after 20 minutes and four-down at the break, Boro’s switch in formation did nothing to combat a rejuvenated Thierry Henry and they conceded another three. McClaren made five changes for the FA Cup tie with Nuneaton that Boro won 5-2. Their mediocre form led to a 14th place finish in the Premier League, but the Teessiders reached the UEFA Cup final at the end of that season.