PHIL Babb insists Sunderland are not scared of playing at the Stadium of Light - despite their wretched home record this year.

Sunderland have won just four of their 17 games in 2002 at a ground that was once an intimidating fortress. Thousands of empty seats at most of the Black Cats' home matches this season have not helped their attempts to turn the 48,000-capacity venue into the Stadium of Fright for visiting teams.

But with the crowd again likely to be below 40,000 tonight, with the match live on television and Christmas approaching, Babb is adamant the players have not grown to hate playing at home.

The defender said: "I don't think we're feeling any pressure at home because we've got great supporters. It's just unfortunate we've let them down this season.

"Fans haven't given us any negative vibes; they're 100 per cent behind us. I went to a charity function at the stadium the other night and the passion is still there from the supporters.

"They sense things are going in the right direction, and that we'll have an upturn soon and start climbing the table.

"It's not pressure that we face at home; it's an expectancy.

"I'd be surprised if you found any supporter at any club that didn't expect their team to win at home. I think the fact we haven't done better at home is down to a lot of bad luck.

"It goes back to the Everton game, when we had a goal disallowed and a penalty saved.

"A lot of decisions have gone against us but these things level out over the season, and I'm sure our home form will turn around."

Howard Wilkinson has steered Sunderland to just one Premiership victory in seven games - against Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light.

He knows their survival hopes rest largely on putting together a string of good results on Wearside, beginning with Manchester City's visit this evening.

The Sunderland manager said: "I'd like to make the Stadium of Light a fort at the moment by putting a few wins together; let's deal with making it a fortress later. It's the players that win matches, not the fans.

"The fans can help, but they can only help if the players have the ability, desire and conviction to make it happen."

l Robbie Keane admitted the 3-1 scoreline flattered Tottenham after the club's victory over West Brom yesterday. Christian Ziege and Keane put Spurs in control before Scott Dobie pulled a goal back in the second half with the best goal of the match.

But Gustavo Poyet clinched all three points ten minutes from time.

Keane said: ''Take nothing away from West Brom - they worked hard, but the goal at the end probably flattered us."

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