Sunderland manager David Moyes has said he is not being defeatist by saying the club face another Premier League relegation fight after just two games of the season.
His comments, following Sunday's 2-1 home derby defeat to Middlesbrough, sparked dismay from some fans who had hoped for better following four successive battles to preserve top-flight status.
Moyes has high hopes of changing that trend and steering Sunderland into calmer waters -- but he knows there is no quick fix.
He said: "I tell it pretty straight. The truth of it is, does it need me to say it? The club has probably just avoided relegation in the last four years or so.
"I don't want that to happen. I want to have a team which gets us up the league. But it can't happen overnight, and I have reiterated that. I can't change it overnight.
"There were no new players at all until I came in two or three weeks ago. At the moment, we have got to make sure that we're not near the bottom, but I'm also a realist.''
Sunderland face a growing injury crisis, with keeper Vito Mannone facing a scan on an elbow injury and defender John O'Shea added to a casualty list already including Billy Jones, Lamine Kone, Lee Cattermole, Jan Kirchhoff, Sebastian Larsson and Fabio Borini.
They will continue to work on transfer targets, with Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M'Vila, who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light, high on the list.
Moyes said: "I do know that there have been talks regarding M'Vila.''