THERE may have been a new manager, but it was the same old story at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

If points were awarded for commitment and effort, the Black Cats would not be in the humiliating state they find themselves at the foot of the Premiership table.

Four more defeats and the inevitable will become reality.

Given that Sunderland have won just twice all the season, it would take a small miracle for caretaker boss Kevin Ball to double the amount of victories predecessor Mick McCarthy achieved.

In truth, the calculator went with the January sales and ever since then Sunderland have been playing for pride.

There is little doubt the Wearsiders will go down fighting, especially under Ball, whose never-say-die attitude earned him cult-like status during almost a decade at the club as a player.

But, would it have been any different under Mick McCarthy? Many feel not.

Indeed the 31,194 who turned up on Saturday made their feelings plainly clear, and that the wrong man paid for Sunderland's sad demise seven days ago.

As proven last season, there are few better managers than McCarthy equipped to plot a quick return to the top flight.

But, while McCarthy departed with a smile on his face and dignity firmly intact, chairman Bob Murray's eventual farewell could prove anything but amicable.

Taking charge of his first game in management, as much as Ball can sympathise with the club's current plight, he felt the timing of the fans' protest against Murray was far from ideal.

He admitted: "We could have done without that today. I would have preferred it if the supporters had got behind the team.

"There is a time and a place for them to air their views and I would have preferred that to happen after the game.

"It is their prerogative, but as an ex-player I know that it can have an effect on everyone on the pitch."

The eighth minute wonder strike from Henri Camara only roused the ill-feeling aimed towards Murray.

Perhaps typical of the season, there was little Sunderland could do about the only goal of the game which consigned them to an 11th home defeat.

Fingers may have been pointed at Rory Delap and Nyron Nosworthy for not closing down quicker on the edge of their own area, but the finish from Camara was simply sublime.

"At times you say to yourself you could have defended what went on before better," said Ball. "But when he's hit it and its gone in the back of the net I just thought it was a hell of a goal.

"What can you do about things like that?"

Despite the harshest of introductions to football management, the former Black Cats skipper was able to reflect on his big day with a smile on his face.

"I loved every minute of it," said Ball. "From a point of view of the game I enjoyed it, but from a point of view of the goal, it is disappointing.

"When they scored that goal I remember turning around to the bench and saying we could have done without that today."

Tediously, Sunderland dominated for large spells, but for the umpteenth time this season they failed to make their possession count.

"It is important as a manager that you look at the positives in a game," said Ball.

"By the time I sit down and watch it again with the staff we will analyse it differently and we can give feedback in other ways."

Undoubtedly, the absence of Kevin Kyle for much of the campaign has deprived the Black Cats of any real muscle in front of goal.

In comparison, the goals of Jason Roberts and Camara have ensured Wigan won't be joining Sunderland back in the Championship next season.

The fact that the Latics finished runners up, seven points behind Sunderland last year, makes it all the more galling for the fans.

At the weekend, Carling Cup runners up Wigan were only a shadow of a side which has defied all odds in their first ever season in the top flight.

Camara's volley past a hapless Kevin Davis lit up an otherwise drab contribution from the visitors.

Indeed, veteran John Filan was the busier of the two keepers. The 36-year-old showed good agility to tip over after Stephen Elliott teed himself up for a volley from the edge of the area.

Filan was called upon moments later, this time saving at his near post from Delap as Sunderland looked to level.

They should have been on equal terms with virtually the last kick of the half. After Julio Arca and Nosworthy both squandered good opportunities, from ten yards out Kyle could only fire straight at Filan.

Only an excellent reflex save from Davis to deny Lee McCulloch, ensured the game remained within Sunderland's reach.

But, with central defender Arjan De Zeeuw outstanding for the visitors, the threat of Kyle was minimal after the interval.

Strike partner Elliott saw his speculative effort drop onto the roof of the net, while a deflected shot from the impressive Grant Leadbitter dropped straight into the arms of Filan.

In one last effort to salvage a point, Ball introduced Jon Stead and it should have paid dividends.

The £1.8m striker has yet to open his Sunderland account, but, at the 28th game of asking, a goal in the 89th minute looked certain.

After Filan saved from Dean Whitehead, Stead, at the back post, somehow managed to slide the ball wide from a yard out.

"It is important that we keep the belief," said Ball. "We just need to hit the back of the net to put a smile back on everybody's faces again.

"Some weird and wacky celebration, whatever it takes to get people smiling again."

Sunderland 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic

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