EPL Side Sunderland Manager Believes Lack Of Early Home Games Has Led To Struggles

It "may be time" for EPL side Sunderland to "ditch the summer concerts at the Stadium of Light in a bid to improve their dismal starts," according to James Hunter of CHRONICLE LIVE. The team has "only won one game before October in four years." Manager David Moyes "believes the lack of home games at the start of the season -- which is partly due to the use of the stadium for concerts during the summer -- could be a factor." The Stadium of Light has hosted concerts since '09. But while those gigs "have been a major benefit for the city in terms of profile and trade," it has meant that Sunderland has requested to play away from home on the opening day to give the pitch "extra time to recover." Home friendlies "have been out of the question, and six of the last eight opening days" have seen Sunderland start its campaign on the road (CHRONICLE LIVE, 9/17).