Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks believes Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Hull City could transform their season, but only if David Moyes ends his tendency towards cautious football and plays two strikers together more often.
Moyes decided to play two up top against a struggling Hull side at the Stadium of Light and it paid off as both Jermain Defoe and Victor Anichebe got on the scoresheet as Sunderland romped to a 3-0 win.
Sunderland have been struggling for points and results since the start of the season and are prime candidates for relegation from the Premier League, but Crooks feels the result could change their season.
He was pleased to see that Moyes was bold enough to play two strikers from the start and wants the Sunderland manager to show such ambition especially when they are playing at home.
However, Crooks noted that Moyes' natural instinct is to play it safe – and urged the former Real Sociedad manager to be bold, especially in home games.
relatedNewsStory
Crooks said on the BBC’s Final Score programme: “This could transform Sunderland's season, if the manager is brave enough and bold enough to play them [Defoe and Anichebe] together.
“I think throughout David Moyes' career he's been a touch too negative for his own good.
“If he perhaps can be a little bit bold, at home, perhaps away from home is a different kettle of fish.
“But at home it could transform their season.”
Sunderland lifted themselves out of the last place in the Premier League with the win, but they are still 19th in the table and are involved in the relegation dogfight.
