LOSING to League One opposition might not be the ideal preparation ten days before the start of the new Premier League season, but Dick Advocaat insists he will not be pressing the panic button despite Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

The Black Cats slipped to their third pre-season reverse at the Keepmoat Stadium, and while new signing Jeremain Lens repeatedly impressed as he made his first appearance following an £8m move from Dynamo Kiev, the result highlighted the continued need for further additions in the final month of the transfer window.

Advocaat remains hopeful of adding another striker and creative midfielder before the window closes, although there is also a need to create some space on the wage bill via the departure of some fringe players.

With the start of the season now little more than a week away, the likelihood of a new signing arriving in time for the opening-day trip to Leicester City is receding fast, but Advocaat insists it would be wrong to read too much into Sunderland’s pre-season struggles.

Last night’s defeat, which came courtesy of goals from Cedric Evina and Harry Forrester, followed recent reverses to Sacramento Republic and Club Pachuca on the club’s North American tour, but Advocaat will not be losing too much sleep over the poor results.

The head coach concedes, however, that he will be demanding an improved performance when Sunderland sign off their pre-season programme with a trip to Hannover on Saturday.

“The fitness has to be there, but it was a poor result,” conceded Advocaat, who would only speak to Sunderland's official website after the game. “But hopefully on Saturday we can show how far we are with our progress when we face Hannover.

“The fans were excellent again and came down in their numbers, making a long journey to back their team for 90 minutes. So hopefully, we can reward their loyal support over the course of the season.

“Everybody could see how well Jeremain played, and (Younes) Kaboul also did very well when he came off the bench for the second half.”

Given that last night’s game was Sunderland’s penultimate pre-season outing, it was possible to use the starting line-up as a decent guide for what might happen when the Black Cats kick off for real at the King Power Stadium.

Lens made his first Sunderland start on the right-hand side, with Jermain Defoe lining up on the opposite flank and Adam Johnson afforded a free role behind lone striker Steven Fletcher. Unless there is a new addition in the next nine days, all four will hope to start at the King Power Stadium, although it was perhaps telling that Lens was at his most threatening when he was switched to the left for the second period.

Lens’ capture from Dynamo Kiev represents Sunderland’s key piece of summer transfer business so far, and last night’s display suggests the Holland international will provide some much-needed pace and incision to the Black Cats’ attacking.

Swapping flanks repeatedly, he threatened whenever he cut inside, with his best moments coming just before the interval as he burst between two Doncaster defenders, only for his low strike to deflect narrowly wide of the target, and midway through the second half, when he drilled in a ferocious long-range effort, only for Doncaster goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann to tip the ball around the post.

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Strong and athletic, he should add some variety to the Black Cats’ attack, although it remains to be seen whether Advocaat can develop a system that both plays to his strengths and the goalscoring qualities of Defoe, who did not look particularly comfortable in a wide position.

If Lens’ attacking play was the major positive from a Sunderland perspective, the reappearance of some all-too-familiar defensive frailties was a key concern.

Last night’s back four is likely to reassemble at Leicester, with Billy Jones seemingly being preferred to summer signing Adam Matthews, which is a worry given how shaky they looked against League One opposition.

Patrick van Aanholt was fortunate to see his sliced clearance rebound to safety off the right-hand post in the eighth minute – the Dutchman was under no pressure at all as he carved the ball towards his own goal – but there was no let off when some slack marking afforded Doncaster another opportunity seven minutes later.

Jones stood off Evina as Luke McCullough crossed from the right, and the Rovers winger drilled home an excellent first-time volley from just inside the penalty area.

Kaboul replaced John O’Shea to make his first Black Cats appearance in the second half, but Doncaster continued to threaten and Sunderland contributed to their own defensive downfall again on the hour mark.

This time it was Jack Rodwell at fault, with his lax attempt at a clearance being charged down by Harry Middleton, enabling Forrester to sweep the loose ball past Costel Pantilimon.

Doncaster (4-5-1): Stuckmann (Marosi 82); McCullough, Jones, Butler, Taylor-Sinclair; Coppinger (Mandeville 82), Wellens (Carberry 86), Middleton (Lindley 86), Keegan (Whitehouse 67), Evina (McKay 86); Forrester (Pugh 82).

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon; Jones (Matthews 63), O’Shea (Kaboul 46), Coates (Beadling 63), van Aanholt; Rodwell (Bridcutt 71), Cattermole (Larsson 46); Lens (Watmore 82), Johnson (Buckley 82), Defoe (Giaccherini 46); Fletcher (Graham 46).

Subs (not used): Mannone (gk), Pickford (gk).