Last updated on .From the section Sunderland

Gus Poyet knows all about the busy Christmas period having spent four years at Chelsea as a player.

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet says playing twice in three days over Christmas is a "disgrace".

"I know that Boxing Day games are a tradition and I accept that and think we should maintain it," former Chelsea midfielder Poyet, 47, said.

"But I think that then playing on the 28th is a disgrace. We shouldn't be playing then, we shouldn't."

Sunderland, who have won just two of their past 11 Premier League games, are 14th in the table - one place and one point below Villa.

Former Uruguay international Poyet made 145 appearances for Chelsea between 1997 and 2001.