BACK in August a Julio Arca-less Sunderland were subjected to their 16th consecutive league defeat when they opened the campaign at the City Ground, Nottingham.

A 17th reversal soon followed at home to Millwall and the Black Cats were seriously close to equalling an unwanted record held by Darwen for over 100 years of losing 18 games in a row.

But then it all changed. Sunderland travelled to Preston North End, Arca made his first start of the season and Mick McCarthy celebrated his first League win as manager.

The Argentinian full-back was left out in the cold by McCarthy at the start of the season along with Kevin Phillips and Michael Gray to name just two.

However, as Phillips and Gray departed, Arca found himself back amongst the action and Sunderland have not looked back since.

On Saturday it was no different with the South American's magic turning the tables on Nottingham Forest as he fired in the only goal of the game at the Stadium of Light.

Arca's form as a left-back, his favoured position, led to many heralding him as the best in the country in that role and now, due to injuries, he has been pushed forward as a winger where he is proving to be just as effective.

The former Argentinos Juniors star celebrates his 23rd birthday this month and his form has already alerted a number of top clubs, with his contract up for renewal at the end of next season.

Arca, happy with life on Wearside, insists talks over extending his stay will not take place until at least May, although the fans' favourite admits his future is still up in the air.

"Nobody has seriously told me about clubs being interested, I have heard things but nothing is sure," said Arca, a £3.5m buy in 2000. "I have got a contract that sees me at Sunderland for another season.

"My means are just thinking about Sunderland at the moment and I'm trying to just do my best and helping Sunderland get in the Premier.

"We have not discussed a new deal yet but maybe at the end of the season. It depends what happens between now and then really. The coach might not want to play me later, I don't know.

"I will have to speak to my agent about that. All I'm thinking about is showing how I can play at the moment.

"The fans have been unbelievable to me always. They always support me in bad moments and good moments. At the moment I am playing well so they are supporting me more."

Sunderland moved to third after Saturday's victory, albeit temporarily because Sheffield United reclaimed that position after overcoming Gillingham in an evening kick-off.

But, although it was a pretty poor game played in difficult conditions, McCarthy's men earned their fifth successive victory - something not achieved since December 2000.

And it was the win over a struggling Forest side, who won their first match in 12 the previous week, which has increased the optimism around Wearside.

Sunderland sit just five points adrift of leaders Norwich with 19 games to play after the Canaries were suprisingly beaten by Bryan Robson's basement boys Bradford.

And Arca, who struck his fourth goal of the season from 20-yards seven minutes before half-time, said: "Everybody is missing the Premier League. But in this league you can't go into a match expecting to win, it's not like that. You can see by the results on Saturday that that is the case - take Bradford winning at Norwich.

"This division is very difficult for us because every team we play against pick their game up because they know we are a big club hoping to be in the Premier. But we are good enough to cope."

Forest, with Tottenham target Andy Reid running the show in midfield, started the brightest and were unlucky when Gareth Williams' long-range effort struck Mart Poom's left post.

But Sunderland soon picked up the pace and should have gone a goal up long before Arca added to his tally.

Stephen Wright claimed he headed in a cross from the winger on 14 minutes but referee Martin Atkinson, who awarded an indirect free-kick, was advised by his assistant that the former Liverpool defender did not touch it. Just two minutes after Kevin Kyle was introduced as an early replacement for Thomas Butler, with striker Tommy Smith reverting to the right wing, the home side finally got the vital breakthrough.

Arca's delightful ball sent Stewart in on goal but his shot was well saved by Forest keeper Darren Ward. However, the rebound was mis-controlled by John Thompson and Arca capitalised by striking powerfully into Ward's bottom right corner from 20-yards.

After the restart chances were few and far between for both sides, especially so for Forest whose forwards - Gareth Taylor and Marlon King - got little change out of Phil Babb and Joachim Bjorklund.

Now all eyes from a resurgent Sunderland will be focused on a tricky trip to Millwall this weekend when Arca will be left in the North-East serving his third suspension of the season.

Sunderland will be hoping they can cope in a game which would send them into the top two for the first time this season if they claim all three points.

Result: Sunderland 1 Nottingham Forest 0.

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