MICK McCarthy has admitted he's enjoying management as much today as he did 12 years ago when he cut his teeth in the profession at Millwall.

With Sir Alex Ferguson celebrating his 1,000th game in charge at Manchester United this week, McCarthy has a long way to go to match the Red Devils' legend, with this afternoon's game at Stoke being his 88th as boss at Sunderland.

While Ferguson - famous in the game for his hairdryer treatment in the dressing room - admits to mellowing with age, McCarthy believes if anything he's got worse.

He said: "Maybe I've un-mellowed. I say you take it more personally but there are times when you don't like it but you accept it.

"It's when you start accepting it and you're not bothered about it that you should start worrying, but that's never been the case.

"I enjoy it more - I do enjoy it more. I'd like to think I'm better at it. It doesn't always appear that way when you've only got five points out of six games mind.

"I still take it as personally as I did when it's not going right - maybe even more so."

And McCarthy has admitted his competitive edge remains as strong as ever, as does his hands-on management style.

The former Republic of Ireland boss wears his heart on his sleeve on the touchline, and is not averse to blowing his top now and again.

"It still hurts like hell when we lose - whether I'm playing head tennis or anything else," he said.

"I'm still the same and that's never changed. I had a mate asking me recently 'do you think you should see someone about those anger management classes when you're on that touchline?'.

"I told him 'no' in no uncertain terms. I think my friend said it tongue in cheek but kind of half meant it. He was laughing at me the other week when I was on about the referee at the Palace game (last season's play-offs) - not that I harbour grudges or anything. My sense of humour is OK. There's not a chance of me booking in for an anger management course. Be angry but not resentful."

* There will be cash turnstiles available for Sunderland fans located in the South Stand, turnstiles 48 to 50, at Stoke's Britannia Stadium tomorrow. Unreserved tickets are priced at £19 (adults) and £12 (senior citizen and juniors). Sunderland have already sold more than 2,000 tickets.

Read more about Sunderland here.