David Moyes has said Sunderland are down to the "bare bones" and in need of reinforcements as they attempt to recover from a difficult start to the season.
The Black Cats are without a point from two games after Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to derby rivals Middlesbrough, and Moyes pulled no punches as he assessed his injury-hit squad's prospects.
The manager went into the game having lost central defender Younes Kaboul to Watford and facing a battle to hang on to Everton target Lamine Kone, missing with a back injury.
Skipper John O'Shea then succumbed to a groin problem in between the two first-half Cristhian Stuani goals that ultimately handed Boro the points.
Sunderland now face a race against the clock to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes, with Moyes admitting that recruiting the right men at the right price was proving difficult.
"It wasn't an easy game for us because of the nature of our team," he told talkSPORT.
"Our intensity in the game was terrific, but we couldn't keep it up in the last 10 minutes because we had so many young players who were making their debut and Steven Pienaar, who didn't play a game in preseason, had to come in too.
"We're down to the bare bones, really.
"We've lost one of our centre-halves and we don't have many, and we've lost a few players to injury.
"We need to add to the team and we'd like to do that. We'll attempt to get people in."
Moyes also warned his side they could find themselves in yet another Premier League relegation battle after their demoralising start to the new season.
Asked what his response would be to fans who fear another scrap for survival, he said: "Well, they would probably be right because that's where they've been every other year for the last four years, so why would it suddenly change?
"I think it will be, I don't think you can hide the facts, that will be the case. People will be flat because they are hoping that something is going to dramatically change -- it can't dramatically change, it can't.''
Stuani's stunning 13th-minute opener came against the run of play, but his second on the stroke of half-time left Sunderland with a mountain to climb, although Patrick van Aanholt's strike 19 minutes from time gave them hope.
Moyes said: "If we had come in 1-0 down at half-time, I still would have felt slightly hard done by it because I didn't think they had too many attempts at goal in the first half. But to come in 2-0 down, that made us flat, made it difficult.''
Opposite number Aitor Karanka was delighted to secure the first top-flight victory of his reign at the second attempt.
He said: "I am really pleased, especially for the players, because they have shown that we are ready to play in the Premier League.
"I am especially pleased for our fans, because we have been waiting six or seven years to live another derby and we have won the game.
"I am really pleased for them because they were supporting us when we were in the Championship and they deserve to enjoy it.''
Karanka was particularly pleased with Stuani's contribution but added: "Last week, it was Alvaro Negredo; this week it has been Stuani; next week it can be another one. For that reason, I am really pleased.
"The club this summer has been working really well behind the scenes because we have had almost all the squad since we arrived to start preseason."