SUNDERLAND will be going for goals at the Stadium of Light tonight, with striker Tommy Smith insisting his fellow frontmen are ready to fire the Black Cats a giant step nearer the Premiership.

Mick McCarthy's side must score at least once if they are to keep their First Division play-off hopes alive, following Friday night's 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace in their semi-final opener.

The Black Cats managed just two goals in the final three home games of the season - with neither being scored by a striker - and their final tally of 33 goals at the Stadium of Light was beaten by the likes of Derby, Burnley and Preston.

Kevin Kyle and Marcus Stewart shared the scoring honours with 14 goals apiece in the regulation season but, while neither were as consistently prolific as they would have liked, they both rediscovered their goalscoring touch at Selhurst Park.

Much will rest on the duo's shoulders as Sunderland look to claw back a one-goal deficit this evening and, with the club's promotion hopes hanging in the balance, Smith is confident they will rise to the challenge.

"We know we can create chances against any defence," said the former Watford striker, who will offer McCarthy a valuable alternative option from the bench again tonight.

"Palace have done well this season, and they've had a good recent run, but we'll be going into the game knowing we can score goals.

"We probably would have taken a 1-0 loss going into Friday night's game so 3-2 is certainly not a disaster. Everyone just felt a little bit dejected because of the manner in which the defeat happened.

"But the lads are alright. We know what the task is now and we're looking forward to the second leg."

They might not have been prolific scorers on Wearside, but Sunderland's fine home form has still been the key factor in their promotion campaign.

The Black Cats have suffered just two home league defeats all season, with one of those coming way back in August when Millwall left the Stadium of Light with a smash and grab 1-0 win.

That home record will come under sustained threat this evening against a Palace side who have now won 14 of their last 20 games to gatecrash the play-off party.

The Eagles' fans created an intimidating atmosphere in South London but, with Sunderland's supporters renowned for the voracity of their welcome, Smith is confident that the Black Cats can use their home advantage to the full.

"We've only had two home defeats in the league all season and that record speaks for itself," said Smith, who will celebrate his 24th birthday on Saturday.

"One of those was the West Brom game and, although that was disappointing, it was a very strange game. So we're very confident going into it and our heads aren't down at all.

"Our fans can play a part. The Palace fans were fantastic but it's always a good atmosphere when we go down to Selhurst Park. There's always been a good atmosphere when I've played at Palace over the years.

"But we know what the Sunderland fans are like. They're going to make one hell of a noise now and there's a lot to look forward to."

Sunderland's approach to the game has been determined by events, but Iain Dowie must strike a difficult balance between urging his side to attack and making sure they protect the advantage they fought so hard to achieve on Friday.

The Palace boss insists his side will play their normal game and, with the likes of 31-goal frontman Andy Johnson and wispy winger Julian Gray in the starting line-up, the Eagles appear perfectly suited to the kind of counter-attacking game that could prove Sunderland's undoing.

"I think the lads thought Friday's game was going to finish as a draw after Kevin scored," admitted Smith. "Which is why it was frustrating to let that final goal go in.

"We're still learning from things like that and we can take that into the second leg. We know they're dangerous on the break, but we're very confident.

"We were a little bit disappointed to give away the final goal because 2-2 would have been a great result, but there's still everything to play for."