John O'Shea admits Sunderland are paying the price for their managerial upheavals.
The Ireland defender says David Moyes’ arrival has started yet another slow process of change, with players trying to adapt.
Moyes is Sunderland’s sixth manager in three and a half year of clinging to their top-flight status and this season’s struggle looks to be their toughest yet with eight games gone and no wins.
They were outplayed by West Brom for an hour in the middle of this game and looked moribund until Patrick Van Aanholt’s surprise equaliser.
In pictures - Sunderland 1-1 West Brom:
Moyes has the toughest job in the league in trying to revive a squad who look ill-equipped for the long haul ahead.
O’Shea, insisting the comings and goings at the top cannot be used as an excuse for the Black Cats’ problems, said: “It’s a case of new ideas yet again.
“It was made out as a seamless transition, but it never can be. We’ve had a few managers here and every single one of them is different. It’s never going to be exactly the same as the last one.
“Everyone’s got their own ideas. They’re different managers, different people.
“The players once again have to adapt quickly and the sooner we get that first win, it will be a weight off our shoulders.
“This manager is bringing in his own ideas, more control, midfielders controlling the game a bit more.
“Slowly and surely we’re doing that but not enough yet.
“We need to punish teams in the spells that we’re doing that. We can’t use the change in management as an excuse, we could have taken something from a lot of these games.
“I wouldn’t call this a storm. It’s just one of those things in football. You’ have to adapt to it, work hard, improve fitness levels and try to implement the manager’s ideas better.”
With several players bickering during the game, O’Shea added: “And also stick together, take responsibility. I’m impressed by what the manager is trying to do but it does take time.”
West Brom were impressive after weathering a bright opening from Sunderland, in which Jermain Defoe missed a decent chance.
Nacer Chadli scored his third in four games since his switch from Spurs and the visitors were comfortable.
Van Aanholt, dropped after a heart scare two weeks ago, looped in a shot seven minutes from time.
Moyes said: “He’s always smiling, you just never know if what’s happened has had an affect on him. You’re never sure.
Asked if Van Aanholt was fined after a photo emerged of him smoking a shisha pipe, he said: “It was in his own time, so he was given a warning letter about his future conduct and told here at Sunderland we want the players to behave correctly.”