Sunderland capitulate against Nottingham Forest as fans make feelings clear

Forest were the more clinical and resolute of the two teams, fully deserving of their win. The Black Cats conceded three goals in the space of six minutes as they squandered a golden opportunity to close the gap to the European places.

Regis Le Bris has never committed to targeting a European venture, and he's probably been wise in doing so. That said, tonight's display was dismal, with too many individual errors.

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Here are the key Sunderland talking points from the defeat against Forest:

It was a bizarre start to the game from a Sunderland perspective. They were on the front foot, attacking and causing Forest all sorts of problems with their forward runs, albeit lacking the final pass to unlock the defence.

The Black Cats got their trigger press bang on and had ample opportunities inside the first ten minutes to at least create chances in the final third. However, they were far too sloppy in possession at both ends of the pitch.

Some credit must go to Forest for their own high press, but it was just as much Sunderland's errors as it was good play. Inside just two minutes, Noah Sadiki tried to nonchalantly play out from the back and completely under hit the pass.

Omari Hutchinson raced in to steal the ball, and Omar Alderete had to be alert to block a shot from the edge of the area. That should have been a warning sign.

Sunderland were probing for an opener, and Enzo Le Fee had a brilliant opportunity to send Noah Sadiki on his way on the counter, but he picked the wrong pass entirely, and possession turned over once again. Alderete was also particularly poor in playing out from the back in the first half - uncharacteristically so.

Forest weren't brilliant in the opening stages of the game, but they didn't need to be. Sunderland were hopeless after Trai Hume's own goal gave the visitors the lead.

The second goal was even worse. Roefs tried to play out from the back and passed the ball straight to Wood who, after Gibbs-White picked up the loose ball and played it back into the path of the Forest striker, prodded the ball into the back of the net.

Before the Wearsiders knew it, Forest had a third. Then a fourth. It was game over from there.

It's hard to say Le Bris got this one wrong from the outset, given how brightly Sunderland started the game, but his side just completely lost the plot after the opening goal. It was a game where individual errors gifted the visitors all three points.

If you had no idea which team was in a relegation battle and who was pushing for Europe, you would have had the teams the other way round.

With noise and speculation about his future, it's a result Le Bris certainly could have done without. Of course, the Black Cats have no plans to part ways with the French head coach after a brilliant season and nor should they.

However, that's nine goals Sunderland have conceded in 180 minutes of football, and that isn't good enough if they want to qualify for Europe. Take nothing away from Forest; they were the better team and the more clinical one at that.

You could argue the French head coach took too long to change the game and there will be questions asked about his lack of substitutes.

Sunderland fans were right up for the game tonight, it's just a shame their team weren't on the pitch. The Red and White Army roared the team onto the pitch and although some spoke with their feet and left the game after the fourth goal went in, the majority stuck with their team.

The team were booed off at half-time, before a huge roar of encouragement after the initial disappointment. Sunderland fans stuck with their team until late into the game.

When the fifth went in, '5-0 down, who gives a f***, Sunderland boys are staying up' could be heard from those left in the ground.

Here's hoping this performance was a one-off at home.

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