MICK McCARTHY last night warned he will get tough with any Sunderland players who hide in the white-hot cauldron of today's Premiership relegation battle with Bolton Wanderers as he told his team to rid themselves of the fear factor that has gripped their Stadium of Light showings this season.

The new Sunderland manager cannot comprehend how a team that made their ground a fortress for much of Peter Reid's reign have suddenly become frightened of playing on Wearside.

Nine defeats in 14 home League games tells its own sorry story, and McCarthy has stressed he will not condemn players who make genuine mistakes in what is certain to be a nervy encounter this afternoon as the two clubs battle for their Premiership lives.

But the former Republic of Ireland coach will not tolerate his players shying away from taking responsibility today in front of a bumper Stadium of Light crowd of over 40,000.

McCarthy said: "There's only one thing I'll have a problem with: if a player attempts a pass and it doesn't go right, and then he stops trying to do that.

"If that happens, the player will get it in the earhole. You'll hear me over the crowd if that happens!

"I accept mistakes; they're not the problem with me. And you need to show a bit of courage if you're not playing well.

"But this is a great place. The players should be privileged to be playing here.

"If the full-back kicks the ball to one of their players and they have a chance, I don't want him then to tuck in and not show for the ball.

"You've got to want to get the ball and pass it, and if you make a mistake then get the ball back.

"You can quickly lose yourself on a football field, stop making angles and wanting the ball, and be in positions where people can't pass to you.

"The forwards can say the balls are all around their ears; the defenders can say no one's showing for the ball; and the midfielders can say the ball is going over their heads.

"If that were the case, then no one would be to blame, but everyone has to try to do their job well and give 100 per cent in their position."

McCarthy will walk on to the Stadium of Light pitch at around 2.50pm today to receive the acclaim of fans desperate for their would-be saviour to perform a footballing miracle in their final nine matches of the season.

Howard Wilkinson declined the opportunity to milk the supporters' applause ahead of his first fixture in charge, against West Ham United in October.

But McCarthy is determined to generate the best possible atmosphere at a stadium where the long-suffering home faithful have seen their team score just nine Premiership goals during the current campaign.

He said: "I will be going out on the pitch, don't worry about that. The first cheer I get might be the last one!

"But seriously, I think it's important I do that. There are extra people coming, and it doesn't matter whether that's down to me or not. There's a buzz about this place - there certainly seems to be a buzz about the players - and if I've got 40,000 people coming here I'm going to enjoy the day.

"I can't do it without the fans. It's not up to me, or the team, or the administration, or the staff; it's a collective thing.

"The only way we'll have any chance of doing it is if we all work together - myself, the players, the chairman, the staff and the fans."

McCarthy has consulted Kevin Ball and Jocky Scott, who remained on the coaching staff after the dismissals of Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill, about the make-up of his team for today's game.

He is reluctant to make drastic alterations to the side that lost 1-0 at Fulham last Saturday - "It would be madness if anyone came in and changed 11 players," he said - but after six straight League defeats a handful of first-team shirts are up for grabs.

McCarthy said: "They haven't been winning every match in the last few weeks, have they?

"They had a good performance at Fulham, and the core of the team is still around.

"But if you wanted a kick in the doodahs when you walk into a club, then it came when I found out that Kevin Kilbane, Jody Craddock and Jason McAteer - all of whom I was pleased to have in my squad when I arrived - were all doubts for this game.

"Whatever should happen this season, we want to start turning results around for the short term, but definitely for the long term.

"People talk about there being a losing mentality here, and that can creep in.

"But if I knew the secret of getting teams winning all the time, I'd sell it and not have to do anything else."

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