NYRON Nosworthy believes Sunderland's Premiership learning curve is over, and the time has arrived to put some points on the board.

A catalogue of individual blunders has punctuated the Black Cats' return to the big time leaving them rooted to the foot of the table without a point. Saturday's clash with the current Premier League champions Chelsea was no different.

A combination of winger Andy Welsh and goalkeeper Kelvin Davis contrived to hand Chelsea the opening goal and gave the Black cats a mountain to climb.

It's not all doom and gloom, however, because performances have improved, but the side must eradicate its recent slip-ups if a quick return to the Championship is to be avoided.

"We've got to pick ourselves up and go again," said the suummer signing from Gillingham. "I don't want to say again it's a learning curve because we've played five games now.

"We don't want to be learning 13 games into the season - we have to learn sharpish.

"Once we get those three points which we should be looking for, hopefully against West Brom, we should be alright."

Nosworthy admitted he has been forced to adapt quickly to the rigours of Premiership life. The defender had never previously performed in the top-flight until he was thrown in at the deep end following an injury to regular right-back Stephen Wright.

On Saturday the 25-year-old was handed the toughest test yet of his short Premier League career - the daunting prospect of stopping Arjen Robben and Damien Duff - and managed to keep his head above water.

"There was no respite," said Nosworthy. "It's all about concentration and your fitness levels. It's probably the biggest test for a full-back to undertake.

"But I enjoyed it thoroughly and it was a good lesson.

"At half time the feeling was good. When you come to Stamford Bridge you know they're going to have a lot of possession and probably a lot of chances but we kept them at bay.

"We felt we were doing alright and hopefully we could nick something at the other end.

"We came out in the second half a bit tentative but still passing the ball around confidently but we made a mistake and got punished. From there on they soaked everything up, sat off us and tried to catch us on the break and they did that."

Nosworthy, like his manager Mick McCarthy, felt new signing Justin Hoyte will be a good addition to the Black Cats line up and praised his versatility when covering for the concussed Alan Stubbs at centre half.

He said: "To be fair to Justin Hoyte he can play anywhere and he slotted in there.

"It made a bit of difference maybe aerially because they brought on (Didier) Drogba but I thought he dealt with the situation well."

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