Sunderland 1-3 Norwich: Nathan Redmond caps easy win as home supporters revolt

​Sunderland's miserable start to the Premier League season continued as Norwich won 3-1 at a mutinous Stadium of Light to record their first points of the campaign.

Beaten inside half an hour at Leicester last week, it took only slightly longer for Sunderland to find themselves 2-0 down at home as goals from Russell Martin (26) and Steven Whittaker (37) effectively ended the contest before half-time.

Nathan Redmond's third just before the hour mark did nothing for the mood of the home supporters, many of whom could be seen streaming out with more than a third of the game still to play.

Those that stayed witnessed a first Sunderland goal for Duncan Watmore in the final minutes, but it was never a threat to a result that had some fans serenading the club's owner with cries of 'are you watching, Ellis Short?'

Dick Advocaat made no secret of his unease at the manner of the Leicester defeat, and there was little here to suggest he faces anything less than a fraught finale to a career he chose to prolong for one last season.

Yann M'Vila - Sunderland's 1000th debutant - avoided the kind of indiscretion that saw him sent off for the club's U21s last week, but a bit of aggression would scarcely have gone amiss in a bypassed home midfield whose carelessness often encouraged City's attacks.

It was Lee Cattermole's profligacy in possession that started the chain of events leading to the opening goal, Cameron Jerome picking his pocket and starting a move that ended with Costel Pantilimon tipping Jonny Howson's shot round the post.

If that was a wake-up call Sunderland slept right through it: Norwich's quickly-taken corner caught them cold, Robbie Brady's shot rebounding off Pantilimon and in off Martin, who had the decency to look slightly sheepish in celebration.

Norwich had enjoyed marginally the better of a chanceless skirmish to that moment, but the goal energised them to such a degree it was no surprise when they added another 11 minutes later.

Whittaker started and finished it, sliding a pass in to the feet of Wes Hoolahan on the edge of the box, and firing the Irishman's tidy return clean and true across Pantilimon.

Sunderland briefly hinted at a spirited response either side of the break, Steven Fletcher and Younes Kaboul missing presentable headed chances, but the game was up when Hoolahan's second subtle flick of the day allowed Redmond to slide a finish inside the near post (57).

More might have followed, Jerome shanking one opportunity past the far post, and the sole cause for Sunderland cheer was a vigorous cameo from young striker Watmore, who justified a rousing ovation with a volleyed consolation late on.

Soccer Saturday verdict - Paul Merson

It’s the exact same situation as last season when they got beat at home by Villa. They just leave two at the back, they need to go from a base. They’re all over the place. I’ve been in team where you’re getting well beat at home when the crowd are on your back and it isn’t nice.

You’ve got to show a bit about you and today if any of those players said "could I go off?" they would’ve all gone off. They don’t look like they’re running around for the manager like they were last year, that’s my opinion.

Player ratings

Sunderland: Pantilimon (5), Jones (5), Coates (4), Kaboul (5), van Aanholt (4), Cattermole (4), M'Vila (5), Larsson (4), Lens (5), Defoe (5), Fletcher (5). 

Used subs: Graham (5), Watmore (7).

Norwich: Ruddy (6), Whittaker (8), Martin (7), Bassong (7), Brady (8), Tettey (6), Howson (7), Dorrans (6), Redmond (8), Hoolahan (8), Jerome (7).

Used subs: Johnson (6), Grabban (6), O'Neil (n/a)

Man of the match: Nathan Redmond (Norwich)