Gus Poyet blames Sunderland for Steven Fletcher's flop performance

GUS POYET reckons that Sunderland’s poor form this season is “killing” Steven Fletcher.

NOT IMPRESSED: Poyet says the Scotland striker is not to blame [GETTY]

The Black Cats top scorer last year has found the net just twice this term and barely made an impact in last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat against Tottenham.
But Poyet says the Scotland striker is not to blame, claiming leading the Sunderland line right now is a thankless task.

“Sometimes I say we are killing him, leaving him on his own up front at Hull after two players were sent off, then again at Stoke,” said the Black Cats boss.
“If he was missing a load of chances, I would say he is lacking confidence, but he has not missed too many because we have not been creating many.

STRUGGLE: Striker Steven Fletcher is lacking confidence [GETTY]

“We are missing the last pass, the last cross or the final decision. Movement has been missing”

Gus Poyet

“We are missing the last pass, the last cross or the final decision. Movement has been missing.
“There are many teams who are decent up to a point but are missing the last punch and we are no different.”

Poyet admits tomorrow’s trip to West Ham is must-win for a Sunderland side five points adrift at the foot of the table.
He has to decide whether to stick with Jozy Altidore and Fletcher or switch to a five-man midfield.
But Poyet sympathises with Fletcher and admits he doesn’t mind who scores.
The Uruguayan said: “It could be Fletch, Jozy, Giaccherini or Johnson. It is a team game."