THERE is a lot that can be said for home comforts. However, for Cambridge native Lee Johnson, he's hoping that his Sunderland side can make it as uncomfortable as possible for the U's.

The Black Cats are sixth in the League One table and occupy the final play-off spot heading into this afternoon's away trip to Cambridge United. The U's currently sit in 15th place in the table but haven't won their last three games in League One.

A recent run of poor form for Sunderland has see them win just one league game out of five but they remain hot on the heels of league leaders Rotherham United sitting five points behind with a game in hand to play on them. However, some sections of fans believe the script is written for the wheels to come off another hopeful promotion campaign in what is currently their fourth season in League One.

The game at Abbey Road will represent a homecoming for manager Johnson who was born and raised in the local area and attended the game as a kid.

He said: “It’s a club that’s close to my heart really because I was brought up on the terraces there.

“I say on the terraces, I was actually ball boy in front of the terraces from the age of like eight years old all the way through to 13 or 14.

“My dad (Gary Johnson) was the assistant manager, I lived in the area, I was born in Newmarket so it’s a nice one for me personally to go back to Abbey Stadium which is a nice tight little ground.

“I hear it’s a full house and we’ll arrive with an army of supporters as well so it’s a game that I’ve really been looking forward to for a long time."

Cambridge United were promoted from League Two last season beating Grimsby Town on the final day of the season and are looking to consolidate their position in a third tier of English Football.

Cambridge against Sunderland would've been seen as a baffling prospect for a league fixture a few years ago but the U's will be looking to cause an upset and make it difficult for them on the day.

The Black Cats boss added: “We often have to compete against that. It’s something that we are fully aware of and often it’s something that we have to strive to be better at, particularly away from home.

“I think our home form must be the best in the country in the league, it’s seven wins out of eight.

“On away form, we want to improve it and that’s definitely an element and definitely a facet of the dynamic in any away performance so we have to control the game.

“We have to control the game as well as penetrate and make chances, obviously we have done that. I think Crewe Alexandra was a good example. The most recent solid away performance and very professional with that bit of sparkle at the end."

Midfielder Alex Pritchard opened his account for the club in midweek putting them in front against Shrewsbury Town with a lovely curling finish. He says he has been feeling the after effects of the clubs recent rough patch this season but is confident they can turn it around.

He said: “We’ve got to go to Cambridge and put our style on the game.

“We played good football in times tonight (against Shrewsbury), better than what we have done in the past few games.

“We’ve got to go there with a positive attitude and we’ve got to bounce back very quickly. As a team, we’ve got to get together.

“I’ve said it before, there is going to be moments in this season. It’s going to be difficult to take and tonight was a difficult one to take.

“We got to go back, get ourselves together, go to Cambridge and get three points."

Aiden McGeady has been ruled out for 2-3 months with a knee injury and will miss the game.