MICK McCarthy has insisted that Sunderland must win at all costs if they are to achieve promotion to the Premiership - even if that means triumphing through "hopeless" football.

The Black Cats boss has seen his side develop a ruthless streak in recent weeks, with the club's last three wins all coming courtesy of a 1-0 margin.

After shipping goals at the start of the season, McCarthy's side have conceded just three times in their last nine games as they have risen to sixth in the Championship table.

The last time Sunderland won promotion to the Premiership they did so with a swagger, scoring 91 goals and winning a record 105 points in the process.

Things will not be as extravagant this time around but, if the end result is the same, McCarthy will be making no apologies for his side's stubborn style.

"I care about how we play and I want us to attack teams," said the Black Cats boss, who will be looking to extend his side's unbeaten home record when Brighton visit the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

"But, at the end of the game, if we have been hopeless and we have won, I don't give a fiddler's. I absolutely do not give a monkey's.

"I have told the players to win games and don't worry how you do it. Within the realms of fairness and professionalism, do it right. Win games and don't get mugged.

"Don't get caught out by trying to be clever, don't get caught out when you are winning 1-0 because you want to win 2-0. Win the game 1-0 and take the three points."

With Brighton currently struggling in the wrong half of the table, the Stadium of Light faithful could be in for another test of their patience this afternoon.

Most sides seem to visit Wearside with a defensive mentality and it would be a surprise to see Mark McGhee's struggling Seagulls committing too many men forward today.

Given Sunderland's attacking capabilities, McCarthy can understand why visiting teams would try to neutralise his side by packing men behind the ball.

And the former Republic of Ireland boss has told his players they must not start throwing caution to the wind as frustration starts to mount. "I don't see why any team would come here and say 'Lets have a game of football', and then get beaten and make us look a really good footballing side" said McCarthy.

"Brighton will not come and try to pass it around - it just doesn't happen. But we've got to be professional.

"At Rotherham, 90 minutes gone and we're 1-0 up, and Dean Whitehead tried to hit the ball off their player to get a corner kick.

"I told him 'Just keep it in the corner'. So what if they boo us for wasting time? I'm not bothered - they had done the job.

"You just don't want to be mugged. Sometimes, you have done all you can and it's a case of going for the 0-0.

"We had it against West Brom last year. Sometimes you take the 0-0, take the point, and don't lose everything.

"Because, whatever people are feeling at that point, when it's 0-0 at the end of the game, they will feel a damn sight worse if they are walking home having been beaten."

Monday night's win at Rotherham was achieved through Dean Whitehead's first goal since moving to Wearside and, with Stephen Elliott and Steve Caldwell also having established themselves in the first team, McCarthy's summer signings are rapidly making their mark.

On the pitch, the youngsters are blending into a cohesive unit and, off it, they are fostering a team spirit that could prove crucial once the heat is turned up in the latter half of the season.

"They all seem to be good mates," said McCarthy.

"They are all of a similar age, and perhaps of a similar ilk having made a step up by coming to this club.

"They are all trying to improve and they haven't come into a place with loads of big stars, a place where they come and feel in awe of that.

"There is nobody here who has been soured by what has happened. Most of them are new and are creating an atmosphere for themselves."

McCarthy is set to name an unchanged side this afternoon, although midfielder Carl Robinson faces a late check on the nose he injured at Millmoor.

Liam Lawrence has recovered from flu, and is likely to be named on the bench, while Danny Collins should also be amongst the substitutes despite suffering a knock to the shin on Monday.

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