SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy last night insisted that the Black Cats would be leading the First Division promotion race if they possessed a regular goalscorer.

McCarthy, who has been frustrated in a move for Birmingham's Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison, sends his side into tonight's game with Coventry at Highfield Road desperate for the victory that would re-ignite a season in danger of becoming a damp squib.

Sunderland have slipped out of the top six to ninth after going seven matches without a win and scoring only twice in the process.

McCarthy's men, in fact, have netted just three times in their last nine outings and the search for goals has been hindered by a loss of form and injury to Marcus Stewart.

Local product Michael Proctor has started the last two games as a partner for top scorer Kevin Kyle, who has eight goals this term.

McCarthy is hoping the return this evening of former Ipswich striker Stewart, who scored when Sunderland last won at home to Walsall on October 18, will bring a change of fortune in front of goal.

But McCarthy has thrown the onus on the whole team to share the goal burden.

"We are due a win,'' he confessed. "After the last four or five games, the frustration is palpable in the stadium - among the players, fans and me.

"When chances go begging and you're not scoring, you think you are due. It makes for a frustrating 90 minutes.

"We've created chances and not taken them, but it's a team game. I know it's a cliche, but we need them all to be playing well.

"The centre-backs come up for corners and the midfielders should chip in. It's the whole package, not just the strikers. It would be different if we had five or six players on four or five goals.

"I came into the season with an open mind after all the changes here in the summer. I would have liked to be in the top six now and that's where we've been.

"I'm pleased with that, but I'm also disappointed we are not higher after the way we've dominated games. If we had a player who was top of the scoring charts with 12 or 13 goals, we would be top of the league.

"We are only seven points behind the leaders, West Brom, and they are working from a far more solid base. They have not had the same upheaval as the other two relegated teams, ourselves and West Ham.

"We could be better placed, but the bigger picture shows how well we have done.''

McCarthy confirmed his interest in Morrison, but said: "I spoke to Steve Bruce again on Thursday, but his squad is a bit thin and he's not going to let anybody leave.''

McCarthy admitted he was furious after Julio Arca's controversial dismissal for a second bookable offence in Tuesday's dramatic 1-1 draw with Wigan at the Stadium of Light.

"I was angry because I felt hard done by,'' said McCarthy. "The game had been a scrap. Wigan came and stopped us playing and worked very hard.

"But you never know what would have happened in the second half if we'd had 11 men. I'm proud of the way my players got a point. They were terrific.''

Gary McAllister's Coventry held Sunderland to one of their four goalless draws this season when they visited Wearside only a month ago.

McCarthy said: "Coventry played well here. They wanted to be solid at the back, but turned out to be better than that and could have won the game in the second half.

"It ended in stalemate, but we have the other side of the coin now. Their crowd will be looking for them to win and they're up against a team who are quite good away from home.

"We're away so we're not expected to charge forward and score every time we attack. We can be a bit more methodical about the way we play and that helps us.''

Former Sky Blues centre-back Gary Breen misses a return to his old club with the knee injury which has already forced him to sit out three matches and undergo x-rays and scans. Midfielder Colin Healy is also out.

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