DEFIANT Black Cats defender Darren Williams insisted on the eve of today's tough away game at West Ham: "Everybody knows Sunderland are too good to go down."

But the versatile England B international accepts that this has been a really bad season for Peter Reid's men, who had expected to charge into Europe after twice finishing seventh in the Premiership.

Instead they have found themselves sucked into a relegation dog-fight, and it is only because there are worse teams below them that they are outsiders for relegation.

Williams admitted: "It has been a really bad season for us, which every team gets - just look at Ipswich, who've gone from playing in Europe to struggling near the bottom of the table.

"There are teams worse off than us at the moment, but from our standards and the fans' expectations it's been a bad season. But we are too good to be in the First Division."

Williams, who has played for Sunderland at full back, centre-half and in midfield this season, is pleased to have been given the opportunity to play at right back in the last two games.

He said: "They've been pressure games. I love playing in them and it's been an added bonus to be in a regular position."

Utility-man Williams has proved his worth to the club after a spate of defensive injuries, in particular to record £4.5m buy Emerson Thome, who has been out for three months with a serious knee injury.

He said: "Joachim Bjorklund has come into the centre of defence and done well and I've played there and we've won games and have done well."

Williams knows that another victory would sweep away relegation worries, and even a point might be sufficient.

He said: "It would be nice to come away from West Ham with a win or even a point on board.

"I felt we deserved something out of the Liverpool game because it was one of our best performances of the season.

"I think one more win secures us. If we get that then Derby have to win four more games and they're not going to do that.

"Ipswich have a really tough run-in so one more win secures you.

"Some people say we're safe now, but you can never tell. If Ipswich win a couple of games they can easily go above us. But all the pressure is on Ipswich and Derby at the moment."

Sunderland have failed to win a point on their four visits to London this season, but Williams dismisses suggestions of a capital jinx.

He said: "It's been disappointing because we picked up a few points there last season, but the season as a whole has been disappointing.

"There's no psychological block about playing in London, despite people saying that North-East clubs are notoriously not very good down there. We played one of the Premiership's best teams last week and gave them a great game. We will take heart from that performance and go to London with no fear."

* Glenn Hoddle's Tottenham expect to face a Bolton backlash at The Reebok Stadium today.

Spurs knocked Bolton out of both domestic cups and beat them in the league at White Hart Lane this season, scoring 13 goals in the three home games. But Bolton are fighting for their lives, and with Hoddle's team hit by injuries he expects a rough ride/

Read more about Sunderland here.