Sunderland's dreadful start to the Premier League season continued on Saturday as Dick Advocaat's side slumped to a 3-1 defeat at home to a rampant Norwich City.

Scottish international duo Russell Martin and Steven Whittaker both struck in the first half for the Canaries, with Nathan Redmond putting them out of sight after the restart and substitute Duncan Watmore getting a goal back late on.

It is a welcome first win of the fledgling campaign for Alex Neil's promoted side, who lost 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace on the opening day, but it is already looking like a crisis at the Stadium of Light.

Advocaat's team, who only just avoided relegation at the end of last season, were awful in going down 4-2 at Leicester City last weekend and this performance will have left supporters deeply concerned about their prospects for this campaign.

French international midfielder Yann M'Vila was handed his Black Cats debut after signing on loan from Russian side Rubin Kazan, but it proved to be a forgettable occasion for him on a sunny afternoon in the north-east.

Norwich opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Costel Pantilimon's parry from a Robbie Brady shot fell straight at the feet of Martin, leaving the defender with the easiest of finishes.

It was 2-0 eight minutes before the interval as Whittaker played a one-two with Wes Hoolahan before sending a right-foot shot across Pantilimon and into the net.

Sunderland had been unbeaten at home against Norwich since August 1997 but the visitors were out of sight 12 minutes after the restart, Redmond this time exchanging passes with Hoolahan before applying the finish low at the near post.

The hosts' consolation goal arrived two minutes before the end, the 21-year-old Watmore coming off the bench to score on his Premier League debut after Norwich had failed to deal with a Jeremain Lens free-kick.