HOW long will the Sunderland fans give Howard Wilkinson? we all wondered as we headed to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

How long will it be before the bouquets are replaced by brickbats; before the dissent shown by many supporters at his appointment becomes outright rebellion?

In the end, it was not the fans, but rather a former player, who was the first to plunge a knife into the new manager's back.

Certainly, the notion of allowing Wilkinson and his new charges a honeymoon period was alien to Chris Waddle.

West Ham had not even taken the lead when Waddle, at the Stadium of Light for Radio Five Live, began his torrent of criticism.

A second Kevin Kilbane corner in quick succession had been wasted when Waddle said: "They've been spending an hour and a half on the training ground every day practising set-pieces, but they've been very poor."

And that was just the start of a near-ceaseless barrage of jibes that even the most pessimistic Sunderland fan would have struggled to match.

Waddle saved the best (or worst, depending on your outlook) for last. Branding the team "lopsided" after Kevin Phillips was asked to play behind Niall Quinn and David Bellion, he delivered the ultimate insult.

"They're going for it but the quality isn't there and that's what counts in the Premiership. It's like watching a lower league team," he said.

With that one remark, Waddle questioned Sunderland's right to be in the Premiership - and certainly doubted their ability to stay in it.

Before then, it was one barbed comment after another. West Ham appeared almost exempt from the wrath of Waddle; his job, it seemed, was to underline just how poor his old club were.

Wilkinson's initial impact had clearly not impressed Waddle. He said: "Sunderland are playing at 100mph. They don't seem to have any pattern to their play.

"Fans will say, 'What was the point in changing the management,' because it's still very direct. The set-pieces have been dreadful and you can't substitute skill."

As the game unfolded, so the criticism kept coming. Just as he could hurt an opposition defence with the ball at his feet, so Waddle can land powerful verbal blows.

"I'll be as kind as I can," Waddle said with a smile before showing not even a modicum of compassion to Sunderland's Class of 2002.

"It's very difficult to pass the ball when you play at the pace Sunderland are playing at.

"They rely very heavily on set-pieces. In the lower divisions, you can get away with that, but in the Premiership you need an extra bit of class - and Sunderland haven't got that.

"They need a player who can get on the ball and do something. It's nice to work hard and have a good attitude, but you've got to have some creativity.

"Sunderland had a lot of possession but couldn't use it. That won't be enough to get them out of this relegation battle."

There endeth the gospel according to Waddle, and having effectively written off Sunderland's Premiership prospects he was off.

Was he a bit harsh? Maybe, but no-one can doubt his motives. Waddle wants to see Sunderland succeed - but he saw no reasons to be optimistic on Saturday.

For Wilkinson, who already knew he had to win over the doubters among the support, Waddle is just another critic who needs to be proven wrong.

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