MICK McCARTHY insists a new trend is about to become the order of the day in English football - goalkeepers scoring goals.

After Sunderland's Mart Poom headed in a late equaliser at his old club Derby last weekend, Leeds' Paul Robinson repeated the feat in the Carling Cup clash with Swindon on Wednesday night.

Number ones scoring goals have been rare over the years, except for over-eccentric stars like Paraguay's Jose-Luis Chilavert.

But now, following Poom and Robinson's goals in the English game, McCarthy believes there could be a sudden increase in strikes of that type as clubs go in search of a late equaliser.

The Sunderland boss, whose side face Reading at home this evening (5.35 kick-off) admits he fears other clubs taking the same course of action against the Black Cats.

And he revealed there is little, if anything, managers can do to counter the extra man being thrown into the penalty area.

McCarthy did, though, urge goalkeepers to stick to what they know best and not get carried away with their freak goals.

"It's an amazing stat for two keepers to do it in a week," said McCarthy. "But how do you plan for a goalkeeper going up into the box late on?

"You have got players marked and then this man mountain comes up, built like a brick out-house, and a little midfield player on the edge of the box is thinking I've got to pick him up! Desperation stakes, that's what it is.

"But goalkeepers are in nets because they are good at what they do, they are not good at scoring goals - normally.

"It's like when you are at school - they give you a recorder because you can't sing."

Sunderland skipper Paul Thirlwell is refusing to change his style of play in a bid to avoid picking up his fifth booking of the season, although he will not be as lippy.

The talented midfielder is resigned to facing a suspension at some point and the pospect of losing his place.

But Thirlwell knows yellow cards come with the territory in football these days and he is determined to focus on the job in hand.

"It's part and parcel of how the game is now," said the 24-year-old, who has played all but one of Sunderland's First Division games. "If you play midfield then you have to expect to pick up cards.

"There's only one card to go until a ban and I know I will get it. It's inevitable between now and the end of the season.

"I might watch what I am saying to the referee but in terms of flying in for tackles it won't stop me.

"There was one card I picked up for giving the ref a bit of lip, so that could have been cut out.

"But that happens when you are playing football, you say things you don't mean.

"I have had little runs in the side before but being captain now is probably the best run I have had and I don't want to lose my place."

The former England under-21 midfielder is convinced Sunderland can put the embarrassing Carling Cup defeat to Huddersfield to bed against Reading today.

That reversal increased the Black Cats' winless run to three games, but Thirlwell insists they will soon hit the right notes again.

"At half-time, at 2-1 down, there was still the confidence that we could go on and win," he said. "We were also one down at Derby and we bounced back. I don't want to dwell too much on last season but we have more fighting spirit now."

Influential centre-back Gary Breen is expected to be back in the side after recovering from a groin injury. But Stephen Wright (calf), Jason McAteer (hamstring) and Matt Piper (knee) are sidelined.

Reading, whose caretaker boss Kevin Dillion was born on Wearside and is a Sunderland fan, is likely to leave Shaun Goater - a summer transfer target for McCarthy - on the bench.

Sunderland's trip to Gillingham will now be played on Tuesday, November 4 at 7.45pm.

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