MICK McCARTHY last night told Sunderland's relegated flops to write their names into Wearside folklore by scuppering Newcastle United's Champions League hopes.

The Sunderland manager reckons his players would be revered for winning today's Wear-Tyne derby, despite a wretched season that has yielded just four Premiership wins and a meagre 19 points.

It is 23 years since Sunderland defeated the Magpies on Wearside and, after 12 successive losses, they are looking ahead to the match with trepidation.

The Black Cats' Class of 2002-03 have already set a number of unenviable club records - most League defeats in a row and most games without a win, to name but two - and have a clutch of equally undesirable landmarks within their grasp.

But McCarthy has drawn on his vast experience of Glasgow, Manchester and Yorkshire derbies to give Sunderland a fighting chance of causing one of the Premiership season's biggest upsets.

He said: "I've told the players that in ten seasons' time people might say, 'We were awful in 2002-03; I think we finished bottom.'

"But if we beat Newcastle, they will all remember that result. That, for me, is a motivating factor.

"In derbies, it doesn't matter where you are in the League or which team is put out; I played in a lot of derbies where the favourite didn't win.

"There always appeared to be a gulf between Manchester City and United, not in the stature of the clubs but their positions. But City won one derby 5-1.

"You'd hardly say Barnsley and Leeds, or Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday, were equal as clubs. But we always did well against them.

"You might think that's nothing to do with Sunderland and Newcastle, but it's all relative. Those games mean as much to fans of those clubs.

"Victory against Newcastle would be a great way to break our run because it means so much to the football club.

"If we're going to turn it around, there would be no better time than this game."

McCarthy quipped that he was going to ring Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley this week "because I wanted to talk to someone who's had nearly as bad a run as we've had" - but the Addicks boss telephoned him first.

He claims to be oblivious to the problems that have seen Newcastle slip from the title race to the brink of missing out on next season's Champions League.

Certainly, McCarthy supports the view that the Magpies will regard this game as an opportunity to get their faltering top-four bid back on track.

He said: "I don't think we've suddenly become favourites because Newcastle have had a dip in form.

"I've been tussling with my own demons without worrying about Sir Bobby Robson's. But they've had a great season.

"I don't know whether Bobby has had players missing recently. I know they seem to have a few problems, but their form doesn't concern me.

"I've got the utmost respect for Bobby, firstly for his record and secondly as a person and professional. I always got full support from him when I was the Republic of Ireland manager.

"He always had the decency to ring me when he wanted something. He's a terrific bloke."

McCarthy admitted he has been underwhelmed by the build-up to his first Wear-Tyne derby as the nation's attention has been fixed on Manchester United's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid.

Now, however, he expects the pressure to be cranked up as Sunderland try to make up for a dismal season by ending Newcastle's unbeaten record at the Stadium of Light.

McCarthy added: "You get carried away during derby week with the hype of it, but strangely I don't think there's been the same hype about this game.

"You couldn't splash our game over the newspapers at a time when Real Madrid were beating Manchester United.

"If our game were the only one of the week, there would have been more pressure on our players.

"Other games have taken a little bit away from this - the game has been kind of diluted - but that won't be the case on Saturday. It will mean as much as ever."

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