SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid admitted last night that his struggling side might be meeting revitalised relegation battlers Derby County "at the wrong time" at Pride Park this afternoon.

While the Wearsiders extended their run without a win to seven games with a 4-1 hammering at the hands of defending champions Manchester United last week, new Derby boss John Gregory donned his boots and tracksuit.

And his non-stop touchline encouragement was rewarded with a 1-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur, ending a run of five consecutive defeats to put a rare smile on the faces of Rams' fans.

The former Aston Villa boss found himself in front of an FA disciplinary tribunal this week and received a three-match touchline ban and £12,000 fine for comments made to referee Andy D'Urso about assistant referee Ray Gould during the Boxing Day match with Liverpool. But the ban does not start until the February 25th home game against Manchester United.

Gregory has been quick to strengthen his side by taking fullback Warren Barton - who starred against Spurs - and England midfielder Rob Lee from Newcastle as he tries to lead Derby out of the Premiership relegation zone.

Reid is well aware of the signs of revival at Pride Park and he admitted: "I don't know if we're meeting Derby at the wrong time - you've just got to go there and do your best. It's more about what we do ourselves.

"But they've just signed Rob Lee and I think he'll add to their side because he's had a very good career."

Reid is disappointed with his side's recent run - only two points from their last six games - and he has felt the backlash from a section of fans who are far from happy about the way the season is going.

He said: "Finishing seventh twice hasn't made it easy for us this time around but putting aside all the analysis that goes on in these situations what it all boils down to is winning matches.

"It is not nice having a bad run in the League, but I wouldn't say I feel under pressure - I like winning so I put myself under pressure to win.

"I don't even like losing at head-tennis so you can imagine how I feel with this run."

Reid, however, has refrained from criticising his players for their efforts in trying to halt the slide down the table.

He said: "I haven't been tempted to have a go at my players.

"When they haven't played well I've certainly let them know about it, but if they give me everything they've got I won't complain and I'm convinced things will turn around.

"I've got a side full of internationals and we need to go out and produce the goods."

The possibility of relegation has not even crossed Reid's mind. "I don't even want to talk about when we went down four years ago - I'm remaining very positive about the situation," he insisted.

Reid blamed himself at Old Trafford for using five men at the back in a first half when United rattled in four goals - and it might have been more.

The team looked more balanced when he went back to 4-4-2, but he is still struggling to find the right support for his England striker, Kevin Phillips, whose long-standing partnership with Republic of Ireland international is obviously coming to an end.

Reid has made a couple of scouting trips to the Continent, and while he has been strongly linked with Belgian striker Emile Mpenza, who plays in the Bundesliga with Schalke 04, no deal has yet been struck for a 23-year-old player who would cost in the region of £8m.

Characteristically Reid has refused to identify his possible targets, and tries hard to avoid speculation.

He said: "It's nothing new that I should be watching all the games I am but with the position we're in it gets highlighted even more.

"I like watching games and I've always done it for obvious reasons, but at present I can't go to games without it being in the papers."

He added: "I thought I'd fly from Manchester this time to avoid being seen, but I pick up the paper the next day and there are reports about me being off to watch games in Europe - I must have one of those faces."

Reid knows how important it is for him to find the right partner for Phillips, but he refuses to be hurried.

He said: "The only time I've made bad decisions in the transfer market is when I've been under pressure to buy - you have to try and not be rushed into buys."

* John Gregory will today aim to pull off a trick that two previous Derby managers have failed to achieve in nearly a year.

Derby's new boss has already sent the wind of change blowing through Pride Park since he breezed into the club ten days ago.

Gregory has signed two former England stars, changed the shape of the tables in the training ground dining room and introduced some rousing rock music into the pre-match build-up.

Now he is aiming for another double back-to-back Premiership victories.

Derby have not won two consecutive games since they beat Gregory's former club Aston Villa and Spurs at the end of February and the beginning of March.

Gregory celebrated the start of his reign with a 1-0 win over Spurs last Saturday and now has Sunderland in his sights.

''It's like getting your first away win of the season,'' Gregory admitted.

''You need to get that under your belt because it can become a phobia.

''We haven't won two matches on the trot for 11 months so that's the next goal we have to aim for.''

But Gregory reckons that Peter Reid's team will prove a tougher nut to crack than Spurs despite a slump which has seen Sunderland slip to within three points of the relegation zone.

He added: ''They are fighting for their lives and I know that Peter and his team won't be lying down they never do.''

Derby showed plenty of character of their own in beating Spurs and Gregory wants a repeat performance today

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