PHIL Babb insists he's too chilled out to let the Premiership heat get to him.

As Babb prepared for tonight's scrap with Bolton Wanderers, the only club below Sunderland in the table, the defender said: "There's too much hassle going on in the world to get uptight about playing football."

The Black Cats will slump to the bottom of the Premiership if they suffer their third successive defeat this evening.

But Babb, whose form since his summer move from Sporting Lisbon has been one of precious few bright spots for Sunderland this season, remains relaxed about his side's plight.

He said: "I'm laid back and I try not to let the situation affect me. I just dig in and do my job.

"I'm just a naturally pleasant person, and I'm just happy to be playing."

The signing of Babb, Sunderland's first new face of the close season, was met with widespread dissent among fans who were hoping for more exciting arrivals.

But the centre-back has silenced most of his critics with a handful of good displays alongside Joachim Bjorklund and latterly Jody Craddock.

He said: "To be honest, my CV isn't too bad. I know a lot of people see me and think, 'I can't believe he's still knocking about, what's he doing in the Premiership?'

"But I think I've done a good job wherever I've been, and a lot of clubs watched me while I was in Lisbon.

"I had the chance to stay out there for a few more years, but my intention was always to come back to the Premiership and I'm glad to be at Sunderland."