O’Neill stretches patience of Short

Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3

When it comes to his support of Martin O’Neill, Ellis Short’s patience can be measured in matches. At the moment, it’s nine. How far the increasingly beleaguered Sunderland manager makes it into double figures is likely to depend on two of their next three games.

Rather like this all-too predictable defeat, the trip to Manchester United on Saturday is a free fixture, where the aim will be to avoid a nightmare rather than holding any realistic hope of reward.