Under-fire Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat has admitted that a change in formation is needed to kick-start the Black Cats' Premier League season once and for all.
Advocaat's men sit bottom of the table after winning just two points from a possible 21, with the North-East side four points adrift of safety heading into what the Dutchman believes could be a season-defining few weeks.
Sunderland face West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and bitter rivals Newcastle United in the month of October, and the 68-year-old acknowledges that a change in approach is vital.
"Borini and Defoe have struggled as lone strikers, that's correct. We definitely have to look at a change of formation," he is quoted as saying by the Sunderland Echo.
"Now we have to ask do we go on with 4-3-3 or do we have to find another solution? Yes, we have to think about the way we are playing to find a way to be more successful than we have so far.
"If we have an idea about how to do that, you have to change it. The next seven games until the end of November are very important."
It was reported on Sunday that the Wearside outfit had approached Patrick Vieira to succeed Advocaat, in what would be the Frenchman's first job in management.
Shane Callaghan
