We can relax against United - Sorensen

Defiant Sunderland welcome Manchester United to the Stadium of Light tomorrow with their tails up after defying the odds to unseat Premiership pace-setters Leeds.

Peter Reid’s side headed for Elland Road on Wednesday night having picked up just one point from their first two games and with few commentators giving them any chance of improving on that record against Terry Venables’ high-fliers.

But Jason McAteer’s lone strike clinched a first win at Leeds in more than 40 years for the Black Cats to send them into tomorrow’s equally testing clash with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men having restored a little belief.

Had they not won in midweek, they would have faced the deposed champions with Reid staring down the barrel of a gun, but although they will still have their work cut out to take something from a tough game, the fact that they have proved that they can mix it with the best will have calmed a few nerves.

The fixture list did the Wearsiders few favours when, after an opening day trip to Blackburn and last Saturday’s home clash with Everton, which they lost 1-0, it paired them with Leeds and United within four days.

That, coupled with last season’s disappointing showing and a frustrating time on the transfer market to date, have left sections of the fans calling for the manager’s head.

However, keeper Thomas Sorensen insists that the players simply have to get on with their jobs and prove themselves all over again.

“I’m not really bothered who we’re facing,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether we’re playing Everton or Manchester United, we have to go out and try to win.

“We have to take one game at a time and see where it leads us. We all wish to be at the top and looking for a European place, but until we actually get there, we have to focus on the next game.

“We just have to get on with it. We need to focus on what we’re doing when we’re playing.

“Had we lost at Leeds, the pressure would have been on to get something from the Manchester United game, but now we can go out, relax and play with confidence.

“We can use this as a springboard. I think we can give United a good game and I’m full of confidence. If we can get the first goal, you never know.”

Sunderland have not enjoyed the best of fortunes against Ferguson’s side since their return to the top flight, their only victory coming in a Worthington Cup tie against a weakened side in November 2000.

They raced into a 2-0 lead at the Stadium of Light in a Premiership clash in December 1999, only to be clawed back to 2-2, but have lost each of the remaining five league meetings between the sides during the last three seasons.

Reid will hope to have Gavin McCann, who has an ankle problem, back in the fold, but Emerson Thome is out for up to eight weeks after having a third operation on his knee.