SUNDERLAND'S players have spent the last month downplaying talk of the title but, as skipper Gary Breen prepares to lift the Championship trophy above his head at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, team-mate Carl Robinson has admitted that creating history was always at the forefront of their minds.

The Black Cats clinched top spot on Friday night as second-half strikes from Julio Arca and Stephen Elliott sealed a spirited 2-1 win over promotion hopefuls West Ham.

That victory ensured that next weekend's promotion party against Stoke will also see Sunderland crowned champions of England's second tier for the first time in six years.

Manager Mick McCarthy has consistently claimed that promotion was the be all and end all this season, with the title representing little more than an added bonus at the end of a gruelling campaign.

But, after playing in 39 of Sunderland's 45 league games, Robinson has taken immense personal and professional pride from playing for a side that can justifiably claim to be the best in the league.

"Quietly we talked about the title," said the Wales international, who has formed profitable midfield partnerships with both Jeff Whitley and Dean Whitehead over the course of the campaign. "Individually we all wanted to win it.

"That's what football is all about - winning trophies and winning medals. Promotion was the aim at the start of the season, but you want to go up as champions.

"People don't remember second place. We got into such a good position in the latter part of the season that it would have been a massive disappointment not to have finished off the job. That's why it was so nice to have finished things off at West Ham."

After spending last summer reflecting on the disappointment of play-off defeat to Crystal Palace, Robinson can now spend the next three months looking forward to testing himself in the top-flight.

The 28-year-old has won promotion to the Premiership once before but, after helping Portsmouth win the First Division title in 2003, he made just one appearance at the highest level before Pompey boss Harry Redknapp froze him out of the first-team picture.

Loan spells at Rotherham and Sheffield United underlined his desire to prove himself and, when McCarthy took him to Wearside last March, he helped Sunderland clinch off a play-off spot in the final weeks of the season.

That ultimately counted for nothing of course but, after avoiding the play-off lottery this time around, the midfielder cannot wait to swap Highfield Road for Highbury.

"Every player wants to test themselves against the best," said Robinson. "I was at Portsmouth and I played a little bit in the Premiership. But I found myself as a substitute and I wanted to establish myself as a regular at that level.

"Mick wants to test himself against the best managers and we want to test ourselves against the best players. We will get an opportunity to do that next year."

With promotion worth a guaranteed £25m, Robinson is sure to be joined by a host of new signings as McCarthy looks to assemble a squad capable of surviving in the top-flight.

The former Republic of Ireland boss has insisted that he will not jeopardise his side's spirit and unity by bringing in players whose ego competes with their talent.

And, after helping Sunderland mount a series of second-half recoveries this season, Robinson also feels that the squad's battling qualities and never-say-die attitude could be one of their biggest assets next season.

"It has been a strange season," he admitted. "We haven't played well at times, but we bounce back very well.

"We have had poor first-half displays and come good in the second half. We did it again at West Ham and won with a bit of magic.

"Not only is there a lot of quality in our squad and our team, there's also a lot of desire and togetherness and team spirit. That definitely showed at Upton Park."

Before the Black Cats begin to think about next season, though, there is the small matter of a trophy presentation and a civic reception in Sunderland.

The club's fans have been put through the mill since their side crashed calamitously out of the Premiership two seasons ago.

But, on Sunday, their loyalty will be rewarded when Breen receives the Championship trophy and his team-mates embark on a well-deserved lap of honour.

"It's a reward for the supporters," said Robinson. "They have been brilliant throughout the hard times - and we have had hard times over the last two years.

"But we've showed them we're on the up. We're a young squad, but we will work our socks off for each other.

"Things might not go right all the time for us, but we will stick together and go a long way. This is an exciting time for the club.

"Sunday will be a sell-out and everyone will be there. The families, the girlfriends, the wives will all be watching, and it will be a great occasion. It will be something we will cherish for the rest of our lives."

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