Sunderland midfielder Grant Leadbitter has urged the board to stick with manager Ricky Sbragia.

"People are criticising Ricky, but six or seven weeks ago everyone was saying he's brilliant. There's ups and downs in football and people need to realise that. You can't just jump on the bandwagon when things are going well and then start saying he's no good when we lose," Leadbitter told The Journal.

"I understand people are frustrated because they thought we were going to be top 10 or something like that. People need to realise that while we're improving, so are other teams.

"It could take us five, six, seven years to get to where we want to go. Look at David Moyes at Everton - he's had time, he's brought his own players in.

"They went through a sticky patch and he brought them through but they're a top-six club now and it's brilliant to see."