How Sunderland's players rated in the 4-2 defeat at Southampton:

6 Patterson: Good initial save for the first goal before Armstrong swept in rebound. Let down by defence in front.

5 Hume: Like Hjelde, wasn't helped by winger in front but way short of his best. Few crosses hit in hope.

4 Seelt: Panicky throughout. Troubled by movement of home side’s forwards. Sunderland missed Luke O’Nien.

6 Ballard: Booked in the first half and replaced injured in the second. Did what he could against tricky forward line. Let down by those around him.

5 Hjelde: Needed more help from Ba. Was up against it throughout.

6 Neil: Sunderland’s best outfield player. At least tried to get his foot on the ball in the first half. Interception led to Mundle’s goal.

5 Bellingham: Scored a stunning goal but otherwise disappointed. Game passed him by and lost Rothwell for third goal.

5 Rigg: Difficult game for the teenager, who struggled to impose himself and conceded penalty.

4 Ba: Was fortunate to last the 90 minutes.

5 Mundle: A couple of good crosses went to waste with nobody gambling in the box. Scored deflected goal to get Sunderland back into it.

4 Burstow: Alert to create early chance but finish lacked belief. Hit the post but otherwise didn’t offer enough and failed to take his opportunity in the team.

Substitutes:

6 Rusyn (for Burstow, 56): Injection of energy from the bench.

6 Aouchiche (for Rigg, 56): Positive from the bench.

Styles (for Ballard, 70): N/A

Ekwah (for Mundle, 88): N/A

Subs not used: Bishop, Pembele, Hemir, Styles, Lavery, Jones

SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 6, Harwood-Bellis 7, Stephens 7 (Bree, 73), Bednarek 7, Manning 7, Downes 7, Smallbone 7 (Aribo, 57), S.Armstrong 8 (Rothwell, 73), Brooks 7 (Sulemana, 57), Adams 7 (Mara, 84) A.Armstrong 8

Subs not used: Lumley, Bree, Charles, Dibling, Edozie, Mara

Man of the Match: Stuart Armstrong. Scored Southampton's first goal and set the tone in first half with all action display.