ONE shot on target in 90 minutes is a miserable return for any home side but, according to Kevin Kyle, there's a ready-made excuse for the Sunderland strikeforce.
"As a forward you're only as good as the service you get and I think we're not getting any," was his blunt opinion.
Stephen Elliott's 82nd-minute equaliser apart, the Wearsiders failed to force Wigan goalkeeper John Filan into one save.
Kyle and strike partner Marcus Stewart worked hard but had little to show for their efforts, the Stranraer-born former Irish Sea Ferries baggage handler remembering one decent cross all game.
Kyle said: "I'm not having a go at any of the players in the team because they've all been excellent but it's a hard league.
"Defenders make it hard for wingers, they make it hard for the midfield and especially hard for the forwards because they're trying to keep out goals.
"I think on Saturday there was one good cross in the second half from either Mark Lynch or Dean Whitehead and I've hit a header that's just gone past the post.
"That's the only clear-cut chance I think I had. There was one I chested and volleyed over but I think I made that myself.
"It's getting hard. Marcus Stewart is down in the dressing room and as disappointed as I much as I am that we haven't had many chances in the game.
"It's frustrating and to get only one shot on target in a game doesn't sound too good. It's something we've got to work on."
The main problem this season for Sunderland has been goals conceded rather than scored with five goals between Elliott and Stewart already.
Kyle, struggling with a hip problem since pre-season, opened his account against Chester in the Carling Cup last Tuesday but is still waiting for his first in the league.
"Last season the forwards got a lot of stick for not scoring goals but this season I think we're doing OK," he said.
"Marcus has scored three goals, Stephen two. I haven't chipped in with a league goal yet and it's about time I did.
"But it's hard to put goals away when you're not getting five or six good chances per game.
"I think if you look at most teams you need about three or four good chances if you're expected to take one but on Saturday we didn't get them.
"I think strikers might get criticised because we've only had one shot on goal but it's a team game.
"At the minute we're finding it hard to get down the bylines and get crosses in that me and Marcus would love to get on the end of.
"That's no disrespect to the wide players because it's a team game. We're trying our best but it's just not happening."
Despite their indifferent start to the new campaign Kyle still believes the side can finish in the top two.
He added: "When we do play football and knock the ball about we're a good-looking side but at the minute we're not doing that.
"It's going to take time for the players to come in and gel and last season we had a few more experienced heads - Jason McAteer, Phil Babb. "I wouldn't say we're playing terrible football, it's just a matter of time before we get it right.
"We've got to try and get that goal in front rather than be coming from a goal down."
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