SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid is backing North-East football supporters to be on their best behaviour for this afternoon's 120th League derby game against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light, despite the bitter rivalry between the clubs.

Fears have been expressed that there will be trouble inside and outside of the ground, especially with a Sky-imposed 5.15pm kick-off encouraging fans to spend the build-up to a highly-charged game drinking to excess.

Reid said: "I just want to appeal to everybody to remember that it is a football match - let's make it a special occasion."

Both clubs have warned that unruly supporters risk losing their season tickets if they cause problems at the game - but Reid believes that common sense will prevail.

He said: "I have got great respect and the utmost confidence in North-East fans and I think they will handle it.

"If anyone sees any trouble at the game I hope they will stop it."

Sunderland, having won 2-1 at Newcastle in November, will be chasing a rare double over the Tynesiders, hoping to avoid a hat-trick of defeats after going down in their last two matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City.

Reid said: "We have had a very disappointing Easter programme which I said beforehand was crucial.

"To finish high in the League now we need to win all our remaining games, and the best thing from our point of view is that our next game is a massive one between two great clubs and two great sets of supporters.

"I just hope it is a great football match and both sets of supporters respect each other whatever the result and show the right sportsmanship.

"I think the North-East is a fantastic place for football - the match is on Sky television and hopefully it will be a terrific advert for the area and certainly the fans, whatever colours they wear, should bear that in mind."

Reid sympathises with his Newcastle counterpart and former England boss Bobby Robson over the injuries he has had to endure this season, particularly to Nikos Dabizas, Kieron Dyer and Alan Shearer.

"That's the backbone of the side really and it is always difficult for any football club to lose three such very influential players. All in all, taking that into consideration, Bobby has had a difficult job to do."

Robson is held in the highest esteem by Reid who said: "He has a fantastic enmthusiasm about the game and you have to admire someone like that.

"I'm desperate for my team to win, obviously, and it is a big one ofr the supporters, but playing against one of Bobby's sides is always going to be hard."

Reid added: "We have been going through a terrible spell at the moment and this is when you find out about people. I have every confidence that the players will come out of this spell and I just hope it against Newcastle United."

Sunderland have a clean bill of health, with skipper Michael Gray having recovered from the neck injury which kept him out of the defeat at Coventry, while striker Niall Quinn is over a back injury and the versatile Don Hutchison has recovered from a slight groin strain.

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