DEFIANT Peter Reid won't be driven out of Sunderland by defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Newcastle United.

That was the clear message from the Black Cats' boss on the eve of today's crucial derby clash at St. James' Park.

Successive 3-0 defeats away to Middlesbrough and at home to Fulham have left Sunderland in the Premiership's bottom three and intensified the pressure on Reid.

There were fresh calls for the manager to go during the Fulham fiasco a week ago and many feel Reid is running out of time after seven-and-a-half years in charge.

But as he prepared to defend an unbeaten four-match record as Sunderland boss on Tyneside - his side won 2-1 there in 1999 and a year later - Reid insisted that, although people may question his sanity, he is relishing his latest visit.

Some have drawn parallels between this game and that of '99 when defeat for Newcastle spelled the end of Ruud Gullit's turbulent reign.

But Reid said: "I've seen a couple of things in the papers saying that if we get beaten, it could be curtains for me.

"That's something I can't comment on, but believe it or not I'm not one of those managers who is going to sack himself!

"I don't see any comparisons between this one and the one in 1999 when Ruud went.

"I just see this as a massive game. You might think I'm mad, but I'm looking forward to it. It's one we're desperate to win for the supporters.

"But I know Sir Bobby Robson will be desperate to win for his club too.

"Sometimes derby games can be scrappy, but I've got a feeling it could be a really good game.

"We went to Blackburn and Leeds and drew and won, and those performances were excellent. I want that sort of performance instead of the one we had at Middlesbrough.

"I think all the players know how big this game is - they don't come any bigger. When we've won there before, it has given us impetus and we've gone on great runs. That's what we're looking for again.

"After six games you look at the league table and it's disappointing, and the last couple of performances from us have been disappointing as well.

"But St. James' Park is a great place to play football and these players are lucky to be going out there to contest it. You would pay to play in a game like this.

"We've had a couple of chats with the players this week about getting beaten too easily. The players felt the pressure last week against Fulham, but they have to handle that and that's what we've been talking about.

"The supporters want to see you having a go, and we certainly owe our supporters one at St. James'.''

Reid has backed goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, a penalty-saving hero when he famously denied Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer two seasons ago, to rediscover his old form after two costly blunders against Boro and Fulham.

"As we've seen this week, keepers' mistakes are highlighted,'' said Reid, referring to Peter Enckleman's howler in Aston Villa's derby defeat at Birmingham.

"Tommy has made a couple of errors, but I'm sure he'll bounce back. When he's on form, there aren't many better keepers around.

"We've made individual errors that have cost us and we shouldn't be doing that at this level.

"Sometimes you can't legislate for mistakes, but we need to cut them out.''

Gullit had lost the support of the Newcastle dressing room before his disastrous decision to drop Shearer to the bench for the fateful '99 encounter.

But Reid, who still enjoys unstinting loyalty from his players, stressed: "I have a good bunch of lads and I've read about how they are accepting responsibility for things.

"But I'm not daft. Ultimately, the manager carries the can and I have to accept a bit of stick.''

Reid, toying with the idea of playing a five-man midfield, could bow to the demands of the fans and recall fit-again Julio Arca, who has made only one substitute appearance this season.

The home crowd chanted "Julio, Julio'' last weekend, despite the fact that the Argentinian schemer wasn't even on the bench.

"Julio can do it in this type of game - he won't let anyone down,'' said Reid.

"I've got a few options and he's one of them. He knows what I think of him as a player and he's got a great appetite for the game.

"We know we have to go there with a gameplan and look after ourselves.''

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