SAM ALLARDYCE wants Sunderland’s players to be streetwise after realising the extent of the problems he has inherited at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats have lost three of the four matches under his watch as he attempts to tighten up a team which has leaked goals all season.

There were signs of progress defensively - before Southampton took advantage of a mistake from French midfielder Yann M’Vila, when he conceded a needless 69th minute penalty, to secure the points on Wearside last Saturday.

But Sunderland’s stronger defensive display meant a reduced attacking threat, which has actually been one of the team’s more promising aspects since the start of the season.

Allardyce is determined to make sure his team find a way to win games more regularly, even if that means developing a style to clinch games by narrow margins after two 1-0 reversals to West Brom and the Saints since taking over last month.

He said: “We have got to beat the teams in and around us and if we get points like I think we can, that is critical.

“Already I am counting the cost: the goal at West Brom, a point lost, a point lost against Southampton lost. That (would put us up to) eight points. The small margins are critical to cover to make sure we get those points.”

Sunderland do not face an efficient Crystal Palace until Monday, November 23, so Allardyce hopes the extra couple of days after the international break will enable him to make further progress on getting the strugglers to play the way he wants. After that they face Stoke and Watford at home, either side of a trip to Arsenal.

Allardyce said: “We have got to play better in possession and play without the fear I sensed against Southampton, with players who were trying their best, they always are, but that bit of fear lingering in the mind, it makes life difficult for you to make the right decisions.

“We have got to do better with the ball. We pass OK in training. There has got to be bit of fear when the lads receive the ball. And the lads in front of them are not actually making, or getting in the right spaces so we can keep possession. We need better decisions, better movement better passing like we do in training.”

Allardyce admits he is still working out what each of his players has to offer as he looks to overturn a four-point gap to safety.

He said: “We should get back to being resilient in terms of how we approach the game. I'm finding out what our strengths and weaknesses are. I'm not sure all the players have actually identified their own strengths and weaknesses.

“Sometimes they don't like to hear what they're weaknesses are but they have to take it on the chin and not let those weaknesses get exploited by the opposition. Can we always afford to play it out from the back? No?

“I want the players to understand that because, against a high pressing team, they'll sometimes find themselves two and three nil down before they can even adjust.

If you're good enough to play out from the back against a high pressing team, fine, if you're not then don't do it."

Former Sunderland defender Anthony Reveillere has retired. He has not found a club since leaving the North-East at the end of last season.

Sunderland Under-21s will aim to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup tonight when they face Athletic Club Bilbao at the Stadium of Light (7pm).

The young Black Cats, five points clear at the top of Under-21 Premier League Division One, have carried on their form in the cup by claiming four points from two matches in Group D.

If they can defeat Bilbao, who started with a 3-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, then it will will guarantee qualification from the group.

A draw would still ensure progress to the knockout stages but a defeat could allow Manchester City to replace them in the top two. Tickets are £3 adults and £1 over-65s and under-16s.