UNDER-FIRE manager Peter Reid insists that he has the backing of the majority of Sunderland supporters.

The Wearside boss has been the target for mounting criticism following his side's failure to live up to pre-season predictions of being in the running for a place in Europe after two seventh-from-top finishes in the Premiership.

And Sunderland's recent run of poor results - they have lost four of their last six games - has resulted in a growing swell of dissatisfaction amongs fans on the radio and in the local press.

One of the biggest criticisms has been Reid's reluctance to push the boat out with a really big transfer acquisition, baulking at the £10m demanded recently by West Ham United for his prime target, new England winger Trevor Sinclair.

Reid's biggest transfer outlay to date has been the £4.5m he paid to Chelsea last season for Brazilian central defender Emerson Thome, while last week he made an unsuccessful bid of £3.5m for Glasgow Rangers' USA international skipper, midfielder Claudio Reyna.

Sunderland, having gleaned only nine points from their last ten League games, which have included five defeats, must now take full advantage of consecutive home games against West Ham and Chelsea to halt the decline and appease disgruntled fans.

Reid admitted after the recent win over Championship contenders Leeds that he felt under pressure, but insists that most of Sunderland's fans appreciate what he is trying to achieve at a club he saved from relegation to the Second Division six years ago before steering them into the top flight.

He said: "I know the vast majority of the 48,000 who support us at the Stadium of Light are behind me.

"I didn't hear too many complaints when we became the first team to defeat Leeds in the Premiership."

But he conceded: "I know I need to bring players in to build on what we have already achieved.

"Finding the right players who are available and who are good enough to improve us isn't easy but it's something I'm working on."

His surprise move for Reyna shows that Reid appreciates that a play-making midfielder is a priority.

Reid knows he must provide better ammunition for his England striker Kevin Phillips, who has hit the net only once in five games - and ideally he would like to bring in a midfielder who could also chip in with a few goals.

But Reid refuses to panic or be held to ransom in the transfer market. Clubs know he is sitting on a bulging war-chest after the sales of Scottish international Don Hutchison to West Ham for £5.25m and Alex Rae to Wolves, which brought in another £1m.

But how long the fans will continue this high level of support essentially depends on results achieved by a side which has undoubtedly under-performed in a season widely heralded as a campaign that would finally open a door into Europe.

l Swiss full-back Bernt Haas will miss the home game against Chelsea a week on Sunday after picking up an automatic one-match suspension for his fifth booking of the season at Anfield.

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