Sunderland boss Gus Poyet urged fans to stick with them after their FA Cup stalemate with Fulham.

The Black Cats, with new signing Jermain Defoe among their number for the first time at the Stadium of Light, could only draw 0-0, and might have lost it at the death when substitute Hugo Rodallega rattled the post from distance following Jack Rodwell's sending-off.

Poyet said: "I am bothered about the shape, I am bothered about the pressing, the quantity of times we had the chance to play forward and we didn't, the missed connection at the moment with the fans.

"I think the fans want Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips back, but they are not playing anymore. There are plenty of things that we need to change because if not, it's going to be difficult.

"When we are all together, it's easier and at the moment, it doesn't look like that. There are players who need the famous 'confidence' word for them to be better and when the stadium is not happy, the players don't express themselves and that makes kick and rush very easy.

"Teams who play kick and rush is something I wouldn't like to watch week in, week out, so we are going to try to find a formula to pass the ball better and forwards - but yes, passing the ball, so a little but of understanding and patience, it would be very welcome."