MICK McCARTHY kept the celebratory champagne firmly on ice this weekend as he told his victorious Sunderland side: "One swallow doesn't make a summer."

The Sunderland manager is determined his players' hard work at Preston North End will not be wasted when Watford visit the Stadium of Light today.

A bumper Bank Holiday points return would make amends for the two successive defeats against Nottingham Forest and Millwall that left Sunderland playing catch-up.

But although Watford have lost both their League games this season, McCarthy is refusing to relax - despite the confidence-boosting win at Deepdale.

He said: "If we keep doing the things we're doing, we'll keep doing well. But one swallow doesn't make a summer.

"We don't want that to be the case but we've been playing OK; we just needed the result.

"I'm sad it was at the expense of my good mate Craig Brown - but to be honest I'd have beaten my mother's or my father's team!

"It was a good performance, but I think we've been doing most things right during the season.

"When you're not getting results, everybody says everything's wrong - and it's not.

"There are loads of things right about this club and all it took was for us to get a break."

Those associated with Sunderland were not the only people at Deepdale that were pleased with the result.

Darwen's manager and chairman led a delegation from the little Lancashire club that was delighted to see their 104-year-old record stay intact.

Boss Steve Wilkes vowed to get the beers in for his friend Kevin Kilbane after the Sunderland midfielder helped Darwen keep their slice of infamy.

Wilkes, whose side lost 1-0 to Fleetwood Town in an FA Cup tie on Saturday afternoon, said: "I'll be buying Kevin Kilbane a beer next time I see him!

"I might even ring him this week to thank him because we've kept the record and that's the only good thing to come out of the day. Now, though, we'd love to set up a friendly with Sunderland; that would suit us down to the ground.

"We could even move the match to Ewood Park and make some money out of it. That would be fantastic for the club.

"We were listening to the first half on the car radio and I was punching the air when Sunderland went 1-0 up.

"It was strange, with me being a Preston fan and a Preston lad, and I don't think my two sons will talk to me for a while because I was supported Sunderland!

"The Sunderland fans were chanting, 'Are you Darwen in disguise?' and that shows how much publicity we've got from this."

McCarthy will check on the fitness of Ben Clark, who broke his nose against Preston, before finalising his team for today's game.

Kevin Kyle had stitches in a head wound, but he is expected to be fit to start this afternoon.

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