Sunderland defender Billy Jones has revealed that manager Dick Advocaat is an advocate of teamwork rather than individuality.

Sunderland followed up their wonderful 1-0 derby win over Newcastle United with a bitterly disappointing 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace last weekend and the loss leaves the Black Cats perilously close to the drop zone.

While the result was most certainly a huge let down, Jones has revealed that interim manager Advocaat was more disappointed with the lack of teamwork on show rather than the final outcome of the game.

The former West Bromwich Albion star said: "I seem to get the feeling he was disappointed with our team work-rate from the Crystal Palace game. Defensively as a team we were very disappointed with how we conceded the goals and how quickly they came in succession (four in 14 minutes).

"The difference from what the manager has seen from the Crystal Palace to the Newcastle game was we didn't defend as well from the front, win first and second balls, individual battles and get into people's faces.

"It's just the stuff which if you do more often than not you expect to win the game. He expects to see that come in the Stoke game."