Sunderland's 1-0 defeat in their "game of the season" as Chris Coleman described it, against Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium on Tuesday has left them bottom of the Championship. 

The dramatic late draw against Bristol City earlier this month threatened to generate some momentum at the Stadium of Light but two defeats in a row have punctured that now.

Something needs to change. Chris Coleman doesn't have a big budget or a whole host of players to choose from but he does have options.

We've decided to look at what would happen if the former Wales boss rolled the dice and shook things up as the Black Cats look to claw back the three point deficit between them and Championship safety.

We've done away with the 3-5-2 formation, in favour of an adventurous 4-2-3-1 with genuine width, pace and players in there who can go and win matches for Sunderland - that's what they need at this stage.

Camp has been brought in to add experience and while we are shaking things up here, keeping the same presence between the sticks is good sense.

It was a shootout between Camp and Jason Steele and the man in possession of the number one shirt should keep it until the end of the season.

Having played for much of the season as a right wing back, it would be a return to the more conventional right back role for former West Brom man Jones, who edges out Adam Matthews and Donald Love.

He should get protection from a hard working right winger in front of him and while he is defensively solid, he should be able to get forward on occasion and deliver with quality.

John O'Shea's experience has been relied on to hold the Sunderland defence together for quite some time now but it just isn't working.

Lamine Kone has his faults but he is a better defender than O'Shea - physically, technically and in terms of organisation - and it is worth gambling on him between now and the end of the season.

Sunderland need a new defensive leader and while they have an experienced centre-half at their disposal, it would be silly not to try and get him back into form.

Alongside Kone, it is a choice between Browning and Jake Clarke-Salter, both Premier League loanees with a lot to learn.

Chelsea man Clarke-Salter has looked nervous throughout his Sunderland career so I'd give Browning the nod. He has slightly more experience and he could just form a solid partnership with Kone to give Coleman a foundation for success.

Oviedo gets in ahead of Brendan Galloway, who just simply hasn't played enough this season to be considered.

He's an international defender of good experience and technical quality and Coleman should be looking to him to be a leader at the back - especially returning to his more comfortable left full back role.

McNair was bizarrely fielded as an attacking midfielder against Bolton but that is not his game at all.

He has shown for Northern Ireland that he is capable of being a diligent holding midfielder who can cover ground. That is what Lee Cattermole is meant to provide, but like O'Shea, he just hasn't done that for a number of years now.

McNair is also comfortable dropping into a back three when Sunderland lose the ball so he could offer some tactical flexibility in that way as well.

Williams is one wildcard well worth throwing in. Coleman knows and trusts him from their time together with Wales and he is a deep-lying midfielder who can make things happen.

He is comfortable on the ball - not scared to accept it no matter where it is on the pitch - and it is that kind of courage that Sunderland will need if they are to withstand the pressure of the relegation battle.

He was on the bench against Bolton - why McNair was preferred I don't know - but he has to get a run of games in this side. He could be their playmaker.

McManaman is a traditional winger who doesn't really fit into the 3-5-2 system that Sunderland have used for most of the season - but he is a natural fit for the 4-2-3-1.

He would provide protection for Jones, a tireless work ethic and the ability to beat a man. His dribbling ability could ease the pressure on the backline from time to time. I think he should have featured more this season and now is his time to get a recall.

McGeady is a wildcard. His quality is not in doubt but his attitude sometimes has been. However, Sunderland have to take the gamble.

He is an experienced player who, given the freedom to do so, can get on the ball in the middle of the park and make things happen.

He will have energy all around him which should offer plenty of passing options and he is capable of netting the odd screamer as well.

Lualua was brought in during January but Coleman immediately surprised fans by claiming the former Brighton man would be used as a striker or a number ten.

This formation would allow him to utilise his pace out wide, isolating defenders and beating them. That would get the fans excited and Sunderland need nothing more than that right now.

Sunderland have tried Maja, Joel Asoro and January signing Ashley Fletcher in various combinations but none have quite come off.

This system requires a lone frontman and I would plump for the intelligence of Maja. For a young man, he is very good at bringing his team mates into play and with the attacking options in this team, that is key.

If he got five goals between now and the end of the season, that could just keep Sunderland up.

What do you make of these selections? Let us know in the comments below...