Following on from the 5-1 Easter Monday humbling at the hands of Blackburn Rovers, back-to-back goalless draws against Bristol City and Leeds United this week have at least offered a welcome reassurance that Sunderland have not forgotten how to defend.

Unfortunately, they also delivered a reminder - if one was required - of the Black Cats’ limitations at the other end of the pitch where even the return to the starting line-up of the talismanic Jack Clarke could not conjure a goal.

Sunderland have scored only three times in their last five games all told; at home their record is even worse, with just two goals scored in the last five games on Wearside - and both of those were late consolation strikes in the defeats against Swansea City and Blackburn.

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With the season grinding towards a conclusion that cannot come soon enough, there is no point launching into an angry diatribe concerning the club’s inability to recruit quality strikers last summer or to remedy the situation in January. It has all been said before and there will be plenty of time to revisit that subject at the end of the season when the inevitable inquest is held.

More important than repeatedly going over old ground is that the club learns from, and rectifies, its myriad mistakes.

Of course, signings will have to wait until the transfer market reopens but there are steps that the club could take now - today, if it wanted - to lay the groundwork as far as rebuilding bridges with disillusioned supporters and bringing them back on board.

With such a critical summer ahead, the club must get its messaging right - it needs to be more communicative, more transparent, more proactive.

After the Bristol game, I was part of a panel of journalists answering questions from Sunderland fans from all over the world who had travelled to watch the game as part of International Fans’ Day.

One of the biggest talking points on the night was Sunderland’s ‘model’ and how - or, indeed, if - it is likely to change given the way the club’s season has cratered since the turn of the year.

In a nutshell, the club’s model, is to sign young, talented, players who can be developed, with Sunderland reaping the benefit in the short-to-medium term with an acceptance that, in the longer-term, the most successful examples can be sold on at a significant profit with that money used to finance the next crop of youngsters.

I think there is zero chance that the current ownership will abandon that guiding philosophy, however I will be amazed if it does not tweak the model and add one or two more experienced, battle-hardened, senior pros to the mix.

Because last season, the club had the balance broadly right and was rewarded with a sixth-placed finish; the decision this term to jettison older heads such as Danny Batth, Lynden Gooch, and Alex Pritchard, has proved to be a retrograde step.

Behind the scenes, there is an acknowledgement that this season the pendulum swung too far towards youth - so why not be up front about it?

Speak out, admit the mistake, take responsibility, and say that you will be looking to add some extra experience this summer if that is what you intend to do - or, if that is not your intention, explain why not.

And, while you’re at it, give supporters a meaningful update on the club’s search for a new head coach. Eight weeks into the hunt, the club must now have a good idea of the kind of candidate it wants.

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At the moment, supporters do not know in which direction their club is headed. There are too many unanswered questions and the information vacuum feeds the sense of unease.

Don’t leave people guessing. Share your plans, explain your reasoning, and be prepared to take on board feedback.

In short, treat supporters like adults.