How Michael Beale is sucking the life out of Sunderland as diehard reveals 'draining' effect of ex Rangers boss

Michael Beale stands accused of sucking the life out of Sunderland as the former Rangers is having a “draining effect” on the Stadium of Light.

The Londoner is just seven games into his new job after succeeding popular Tony Mowbray at the Black Cats. Supporters chanted for Beale, who lasted less than a year at the Ibrox helm after leaving QPR to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst, to leave after defeat to Hull City on Friday.

Sunderland host Stoke City on Saturday with early pressure building and Rangers legend Ally McCoist, who moved to his boyhood heroes from the Stadium of Light, heard a gloomy picture painted of life at the Wearsiders from Michael Graham, editor of Black Cats fanzine Sunderland Nation, who was a guest on his talkSPORT breakfast show. He said: “Normally when a club appoints a new coach they’re taking over a very bad team that fans don’t enjoy to watch but Michael Beale’s biggest issue is that he’s taking over a team that fans loved to watch and he’s immediately turned them into a bad team.

“The fans never turned on Tony Mowbray and Beale has come in and made things worse. I wish I could put my finger on what it is. Sunderland have this great young team with quality young players who are full of energy, life and verve and it’s just drained way in an instant. They aren’t playing with any joy, pace or belief.

“They used to be such a good team on the break but not every pass is going back or sideways and it’s just drained. That’s the only word I can use - it’s just draining. Under Michael Beale we haven’t been creating and even the games Sunderland have won under Beale, the fans haven’t enjoyed the football. But before even when we were losing we were enjoying what we were seeing. He’s turned it around