BLACK CATS chief believes lack of home friendlies due to concert season is hardly Bootylicious for his side

DAVID MOYES believes BEYONCE is to blame for Sunderland’s sorry start to the season.

The American pop queen staged a sold-out concert at the Stadium of Light in the summer.

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David Moyes is not ‘Crazy in Love’ with BeyonceCredit: Reuters

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Beyonce performed at the Stadium of Light this summer… Preventing Sunderland from playing home friendliesCredit: JR

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Sunderland are still awaiting their first league win this seasonCredit: Getty Images

But Moyes was far from Crazy in Love about the former Destiny’s Child star’s gig, as it meant his men were forced to travel away for their first match, which they lost 2-1 at Manchester City.

And the Black Cats have not registered a Premier League victory since — the sixth straight year they have failed to win any of their opening four games.

Moyes thinks this worrying record might be down to the concerts, with Sunderland having welcomed the likes of Take That, Rihanna and One Direction to play on their pitch since 2009.

The knock-on effect is the Black Cats have not been able to host pre-season matches at the Stadium of Light.

And upon their own request, the club have kicked off their Premier League campaign away from home in five of the last six years, to allow more time to get their pitch ready.

Boss Moyes (right), who arrived on Wearside in July, mused: “I reckon if we’d had three or four of those first games at home then we’d have won at least one of them. I can’t prove that, but that’s my thought.

“Even having a couple of pre-season games at home would have done Sunderland no harm.

“We need to get used to having a pre-season friendly at home.

“I’m not saying that’s the biggest reason, but maybe it’s something that could have helped get rid of this hoodoo.

“I think the club needs to say, ‘No, we’re not doing that, we’re actually going to see if we can get the first Premier League game at home’.

“Then we can also play a pre-season tournament at home, get a couple of games on the pitch, give the crowd something else to see.

“Maybe that might not be the answer — but I’m trying to find one.”

Moyes has had a full-time psychologist working at Sunderland — and also joked he might even have to introduce hypnosis.

Then when asked if there was something wrong at the club, he replied: “Strangely enough, it’s been mentioned.

“There is. There’s something else and I’m no closer to identifying it.”

But Moyes did at least pinpoint one problem — the mentality of his players.

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Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick to condemn Sunderland to a 3-0 defeat in their last outingCredit: Reuters

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Harry Kane and Tottenham await Sunderland in their next matchCredit: Getty Images
On Monday night against Everton, after Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock on the hour, Sunderland’s players gave up and gifted the Belgian another two goals.

Sunderland visit Tottenham today where they have lost on their last five visits, leaking 11 goals at White  Hart Lane in the last three seasons.

And Moyes added: “There is definitely a mental fragility at times in the team. They’ve got to become mentally tougher.

“To get that mental toughness you need a heart and spirit.

“I actually think there’s a bit of that in the club — but I’m trying to take it on.”