TalkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy has delivered a stinging verdict on Sunderland following their 2-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

The Black Cats’ midweek loss at the Stadium of Light was their first of the season in Europe, and piled yet more misery on a side who currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, with just five points from their opening nine matches.

And speaking on talkSPORT after the match, Cundy pulled no punches in his assessment of Sunderland’s ongoing slump. He said: “What's happening in Sunderland? What is happening at that club? They were giving it all big licks last season. They were giving it massive big licks. They were! Oh they were... Laughing at Newcastle, ‘We're back’ and all that sort of ****.

“All I'm saying is, is that you think you're back and you're not. And this is a lesson to learn. I did not think Sunderland would be where they are. They're getting turned over. They're bottom of the table. Regis Le Bris has now been given a vote of confidence [by the board] - you never want to hear that. You don't want to hear that.”

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He continued: “They've had injuries, I think we have to say that. They've not got to the level they were, but bottom of the Premier League, getting pumped at home? This is this is not how they thought the season would go. Some of the fans must be leaving the stadium right now going, ‘What's happened?’ Yeah, completely! What? How? Their dream, that they celebrated in the last game of the season - they beat Chelsea last game of the season - now all of a sudden there's a nightmare appearing over the hill; relegation, getting embarrassed in Europe.

“This is way below. Regis Le Bris, not that he was going to get Manager of the Season, right, but he was definitely in the conversation. Now we’re talking about him getting sacked - he's getting a vote of confidence. You cannot be bottom of the table after nine games and expect no heat. I'd love to know what Sunderland fans are thinking right now. Honestly, I really would.”