MICK McCARTHY and Joachim Bjorklund are both convinced Sunderland are still serious contenders for promotion despite their inconsistent form.

The Black Cats, who earned their first win in seven games against bottom club Wimbledon last weekend, host another of the Division One whipping boys when Bradford City travel to Wearside this afternoon.

Victory is likely to send Sunderland back into the play-off zone and keep them within sight of the two automatic promotion places - currently occupied by Norwich and West Brom.

The fact that McCarthy's men are still in the shake-up at the top of the table in spite of their indifferent form indicates that no team is likely to enjoy the cakewalk success of both Leicester and Portsmouth in the same division last season.

And the Sunderland boss admitted: "We are well within reach and nobody has got a head start really this season. I thought West Ham, West Brom, Cardiff, Sheffield United and Wigan would be up there but I think Norwich have been the surprise package.

"I didn't expect anyone to run away with it and they haven't.

"It was never going to be the case like it was last season, when Portsmouth and Leicester were well clear at this time of the year."

McCarthy's Swedish centre-back Bjorklund agreed. He said: "I think we have not picked up as many points as we would have liked but we have not been outplayed by anyone.

"We know if we perform and stick a few goals in the net then we can beat anyone.

"There was a lot of uncertainy at the start of this season because a lot of us had never played in the First Division before. It was difficult to predict what we could do this year, but now we know we can win promotion even if our resutls have been up and down."

Bjorklund was expected to leave in the summer but a lack of interest meant he stayed put.

The former Valencia star's good form in recent weeks has helped Sunderland claim points at a time when goals from the club's forwards have been rare.

But following Saturday's victory - only their second in seven matches on home soil - Bjorklund is hoping for a turnaround in fortunes in front of their own supporters against the Bantams.

"We can influence the fans' mood by the way we play, so we can't get nervous because the fans will sense that," said Bjorklund, who is likely to be partnered by Phil Babb again this afternoon with Gary Breen and Julio Arca still ruled out.

"To be fair to them they come to watch us play well and win well but we haven't done that lately.

"At least we have not lost too many at home and now we are hoping to turn some of those draws into wins. We have to try to make the Stadium of Light into a fortress.

"We would like it to be a turning point because the next couple of games look likes those we can win.

"We must create more chances as a team. We can't just blame the strikers because they run their socks off."

Bradford, managed by former Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson, travel to the North-East having lost ther lost four matches without even scoring a goal.

But McCarthy insists any side that has Robson in charge is sure to be up for a battle and he will not be underestimating the Yorkshire outfit - who will include ex-Sunderland winger Nicky Summerbee in their squad.

"I watched them against West Brom and they lost but they were by far the better team," said McCarthy, whose side travel to Rotherham on Sunday. "But Robbo will have a good effect on the club, there's no doubt about that.

"He will have a positive effect on Bradford just because he is Bryan Robson.

"You know that the teams he puts out will be competitive and he will make sure nothing is given away easily.

"And, of course, being the ex-Boro manager and being from the North-East he will be wanting to get something from the Stadium of Light.''