Sunderland great Dennis Tueart has praised David Moyes following the Black Cats’ recent run of results.
A difficult start to the season saw the Lads without a win in their opening ten games, but their fortunes have been transformed in the last month following three wins in four Premier League outings.
Summer signing Victor Anichebe has been a revelation and, alongside the irrepressible Jermain Defoe, has led from the front as Bournemouth, Hull City and champions Leicester City were defeated.
And Tueart, who has known Moyes for many years, hailed the Scotsman’s impact on Wearside.
“I was at the game at the Etihad Stadium at the start of the season because I’ve known David for quite some time,” explained the 1973 FA Cup winner.
“I was concerned with the short amount of time he had to prepare Sunderland for the start of the season and it was a difficult challenge to put together a strategy in such a short space of time, but he’s done great.”
He continued: “David has always been very organised and his teams have been disciplined units – all the individual players know their strengths and weaknesses and they’re played in positions which get the best out of them.
“He just needed that breakthrough and we just needed to start winning games, especially at home, but they did that with victory over Hull City and they’ve broken that glass ceiling.
“Fingers crossed they can continue to get points on the board.”
Speaking at last weekend’s 1973 talk-in event at the Stadium of Light, Tueart also paid tribute to his former team-mates and the Sunderland fans.
“It’s always great when the lads get together and the banter is still exactly the same with the same silly stories and micky-taking, so it’s great to see them and it’s all good fun.
“To come back here – Sunderland – is always great and we’ve always continued to have a relationship with the club.”
He continued: “We will always have that bond and those memories because we were together a long time, and because of the popularity of the group various anniversaries of the cup win have been celebrated.
“The fans, god bless them, turn up in their hundreds to support us and this event is no different, but at the time we could have never imagined that we would still be remembered so fondly after so much time.
“I have three sons and my eldest one always says ‘Dad, you’re bloody dragging this one out aren’t you?!’”
