PETER Reid ordered his players to show pride in the Sunderland shirt last night as he prepared for his biggest game in more than seven years on Wearside.

On his first day back at training after a brief break, Reid drew a line under the St James' Park shambles and demanded that his side show more "desire" against Aston Villa tomorrow.

The Sunderland manager, who cut a desolate figure after the Newcastle United game, was in a bullish mood as he vowed to keep fighting and backed his players to do their club justice.

Reid said: "The Sunderland shirt is a good shirt to wear and I want a performance that honours that shirt.

"We might not get the rub of the green and we might get beaten, as happened against Everton.

"But I can accept that. What I want, and what was missing against Newcastle, is desire.

"I want desire to win tackles; to get forward; to enjoy the game; not to get beaten.

"There's no use moping about. You've got to go out there and fight, and I've always been a fighter.

"I think that's one of my strengths and I'll never lose that. Certainly, we need to show a lot more of that on the pitch.

"I don't think we've been strong enough, either physically or mentally, in the last three games and that's something I want us to improve upon.

"We've got good players at this football club; players who played at the World Cup, and now we've got to start delivering.

"I've got a good set of lads here. All right, I've hammered them once and I thought they deserved it. But they're good pros.

"You don't win at Leeds, and get results against Manchester United and Blackburn, without being good.

"I thought they needed a kick up the backside, which hopefully I've given them, but overall I have every confidence in them; I think the world of the lot of them.

"I've brought most of these players here and on paper they're good players.

"They have to bounce back now - and I think the players will be up for it."

Reid was already considering a number of changes to the side that surrendered against Newcastle but his hand could be forced by injuries to captain Michael Gray, Joachim Bjorklund and Jason McAteer.

Gray limped out of training yesterday with a calf problem, and Reid admitted Bjorklund (hamstring) and McAteer (stomach) are "struggling" to be fit.

It means Julio Arca, who has not started a Premiership game since February, could figure against Villa.

Jody Craddock, who has not played a first-team game since the death of his baby son Jake last month, is also in contention for a recall with Bjorklund doubtful.

And with Reid reverting to a 4-4-2 formation after utilising Tore Andre Flo as a lone striker at Newcastle, Marcus Stewart and David Bellion are vying for a place in the starting line-up.

Reid, who spent the first part of this week in his native North-West with chairman Bob Murray's blessing, said: "I have my days when I'm down like anybody else, and I was absolutely gutted on Saturday. I felt sick.

"But football is a close-knit community, even though it's a cut-throat business, and there are a lot of smashing people about.

"I've had quite a busy week and I've spoken to a lot of people. But that goes out of the window now and it's all about the Villa game.

"Graham Taylor will have Villa well prepared, and they showed character against Everton last week.

"We need to show as much character, if not more.

"The fans deserve better but I'm sure they'll get behind the players. They know how important this game is.

"We all need to pull together for the same thing, be positive and get a good result."

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