HOT-SHOT Kevin Phillips last night backed Sunderland's new management team to keep up the good work.

Howard Wilkinson and his right-hand man Steve Cotterill earned their first win at the helm with victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

Phillips, who grabbed his side's opening goal in the 2-0 win, believes it was exactly what the pair deserved after working hard since taking over in October.

The 29-year-old made a name for himself at Sunderland under Peter Reid's guidance.

But Phillips now insists the new men in charge have reinstated self-belief into the once deflated squad.

"It's changed tremendously since they came and it has changed even more so over the past ten days," said Phillips, the club's post-war record goal-scorer.

"The boss has been trying to instill confidence in our play and we have got that now.

"Both Steve and the boss are already doing a good job.

"Eyebrows were raised when the pair were appointed but they are a good combination.

"We have now worked with them for the past few weeks and the players are seeing what they are like. They certainly know what they are doing.

"What has changed is that we now look at the next team we play for a full week.

"Next we play Liverpool and we will examine their play thoroughly and make sure we know exactly how they will play against us.

"I'm not knocking anyone who was here before and Howard has been known to analyse teams in the past, that's just his way of doing things."

Phillips admits that he has found himself working with Cotterill more on the training field.

And the prolific striker revealed how he believes the appointment of the former Cheltenham boss to the Premiership side's coaching staff was exactly what Sunderland needed.

"I've worked more closely with Steve than the boss," said Phillips. "He is enthusiastic and I've enjoyed working with him.

"At the time we needed someone like that to come in and lift spirits and he has done that.

"He pushes me and the rest of the players for more and I'm pleased for Steve as well that his work is paying off - it showed on Sunday."

Phillips' strike partner Tore Andre Flo, who grabbed his side's second against Tottenham, also praised the new managerial partnership and singled out Wilkinson for special plaudits.

The club record signing could be in line for an international recall for Norway's friendly against Austria a week tomorrow.

He said: "I've got a manager now who keeps pushing me. He's made it clear he wants me to chase behind the defence and run at them and that's helped my confidence a lot.

"He has told me he's got faith in me and that I have to give it all in training and in games. Basically he told me what he expects from me."

Since the arrival of the Wilkinson-Cotterill team, Sunderland have only lost once.

Victory over Spurs lifted the Wearsiders out of the relegation zone and the way the side passed the ball around was most impressive.

Now Phillips, who scored for the first time in eight outings at the Stadium of Light, is hoping to get his name on the scoresheet more often - and keep his place in the starting line up.

"I'm delighted personally to get off the mark and I do feel a lot sharper," said Phillips, who faces competition for his place from Flo, Marcus Stewart, Michael Proctor, Kevin Kyle and David Bellion.

"I think it showed in my celebrations just how relieved I am.

"I've never really had any competition for my place. I have always been guaranteed a starting place.

"But now everyone has been put on their toes and we know we have to do a job."

Meanwhile, Sunderland winger Matt Piper has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a slight tear in an abdominal muscle.

The former Leicester winger needs a minor operation and he joins Bellion, Thomas Sorensen, Thomas Myhre, Claudio Reyna, Julio Arca, Jason McAteer on the treatment table.

* Tickets for the Worthington Cup fourth round clash with Sheffield United will go on sale on Friday.

Tickets can be purchased at the ground or by contacting (0191) 5515151