Dick Advocaat still hopes for new signings at Sunderland

Sunderland was in disarray after its first two games.

Leicester City and Premier League newcomers Norwich City pawed away the Black Cats with ease, leading manager Dick Advocaat to announce his whole team was up for sale.

Sunderland were much improved Saturday. They welcomed an in-form Swansea City to Wearside and drew 1-1. If referee Neil Swarbrick had spotted a handball in the box by Swansea captain Ashley Williams, it could have been a win.

Advocaat knows he still has to strengthen his side for the campaign.

"That will not change," Advocaat told reporters. "Hopefully everybody has seen that. But I'm very happy with the way the team responded after the last two games."

The Dutchman initially announced at the end of last season that he was going to retire, but was then encouraged to stay on one more year at the Stadium of Light. Tabloid newspapers in Britain speculated he remained because he was promised a generous transfer fund.

It that's true, Sunderland still has over £40 million to spend.

In the week leading up to the Swansea game, Advocaat staged a team meeting to discuss the poor performances.

"We said to them this week that if you can do what they did last season, working right with the spirit of the team, you get the crowd behind you, even after the previous two games. You see what you can do in the home games.

"There was a lot of energy. You could see Swansea had the bit better players."

Next Saturday, Sunderland faces a team touted as a fellow relegation contender this season in Aston Villa.