Bent: we should improve defensively

(GSM) – Sunderland striker Darren Bent thinks they need to have a stronger defense in order to end their current Premier League struggle.

The 26-year-old striker has scored 16 goals until now this season. However, Sunderland lie in 13th place just four points ahead of 19th placed Bolton.

Sunderland have not won a league game since November 21, when they beat Arsenal. Their last 12 games brought them just six points and included only one clean sheet.

And Bent thinks the team has to defend better to improve their league standing.

He said, “We have got to address our issues on the pitch. We are far too open at the moment and I think it’s a problem.

“We are not defending well as a team and if we want to start kicking on and pushing up the league, we need to defend better as a team.

“It’s not just on defenders and midfielders, it’s on the whole team.

“Strikers need to communicate better with the midfielders and defenders, as well as the goalkeeper.

“It’s a thin line at the moment.”