IT'S hard to think of much more of a contrast, but Sunderland winger Matt Piper insists that tonight's game at Wimbledon is every bit as big as Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Millwall.

The Black Cats will swop the opulent surroundings of Old Trafford for the more functional facilities of Milton Keynes' National Hockey Stadium as they look to keep their hopes of automatic promotion to the Premiership alive.

The 1-0 defeat to Millwall wasn't the only bad thing to happen to the Black Cats on Sunday afternoon, as West Brom's last-gasp win at Ipswich left Mick McCarthy's side 11 points adrift of the top two.

Victory this evening is essential as Sunderland kick off a spell of three crucial league games in just six days but, while the Dons are well adrift at the foot of the table, they showed their mettle with a shock 1-0 win at Wigan last weekend.

Sunderland cannot afford to stew over what went wrong at Old Trafford, but, while Piper admits to lingering disappointment over Sunday's defeat, he is confident of the best possible response.

"We'll be up for tonight's game - there's no doubt about that at all," said the 22-year-old, who continued his comeback from injury with a 13-minute substitute appearance at Old Trafford.

"We know we've got to win the remainder of our games if we want to give ourselves the best chance possible of going up.

"We'll play against Wimbledon knowing it's a game we've got to win. It'll be a bit different to playing in front of such a big crowd at Old Trafford, but it doesn't make any difference at all where you play.

"When it gets to this stage of the season you've got to put everything else out of your mind and concentrate on winning your games.

"We've got a busy week coming up so that concentrates the mind, but I don't think we'd be thinking about the semi-final defeat anyway.

"The gaffer told us to put it out of our mind in the dressing room straight after the game.

"We know we've got to get on with it and keep rolling with all of these fixtures."

Sunday's defeat saw Sunderland miss out on the chance to appear in the FA Cup final and pass up the opportunity of playing in the UEFA Cup next season.

Achieving either was inconceivable at this time last year but, with nine league games still to play, the Black Cats could yet finish the season with an even greater prize.

It's important to remember that nothing has been won yet, but an instant return to the top-flight would cap off a season already seen as a success by most Sunderland fans.

"Going up would make it into a successful season because, back in August, that was all we were looking for," said Piper.

"The cup run was a bonus but, when you get near to the end, you obviously want to make it all the way to the final.

"That didn't happen, but that's in the past now and we've just got to look forward to securing promotion.

"This is a low point in the season for us, but it shouldn't hide the fact that we've had a successful year.

"Getting to an FA Cup semi-final and being third in the league at this stage proves just how successful we've been.

"We haven't got to lose sight of that, but we've got to make sure now that we get promotion."

Piper is likely to be on the bench again this evening as McCarthy refuses to rush him back into action following a serious knee problem.

The former Leicester winger missed seven months of the campaign after picking up the injury in August's 2-0 defeat of Preston but, while he accepts his involvement will continue to be limited, he is confident he can make an impact in the final push for promotion.

"I'm going to be needed for the rest of the season," said Piper. "I'll probably only be playing in bit parts because I've been out for so long and I need another pre-season behind me.

"But when I'm asked to play, I play, and hopefully I can have an impact whenever I'm on the pitch."

Sunderland will be without Stephen Wright this evening as the full-back is suffering from a thigh strain.

Striker Darren Byfield is available again after being cup-tied on Sunday, but midfielder Jeff Whitley is still suspended.

* Millwall's participation in next season's UEFA Cup was being questioned last night because of Dennis Wise's lack of coaching qualifications - but Sunderland do not look set to benefit from any problems.

A new UEFA directive lays down minimum criteria that each competing team must meet, and player-manager Wise does not possess any of the UEFA badges needed.

The FA are currently seeking clarification from UEFA but are understood to be confident that Millwall will be able to line up in European competition for the first time in their history.

Should they be excluded, the FA would have to decide whether to give European entry to Sunderland, as beaten FA Cup semi-finalists, or to the team who finish sixth in the Premiership.

Read more about Sunderland here.