SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid last night weighed up his team's European aspirations before the Easter programme against Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry and admitted: "It's a now or never scenario."

The Wearsiders remain in sixth place despite a disappointing run which has brought only one victory in nine Premiership games and are desperate to beat Spurs in front of a packed Stadium of Light crowd this afternoon before travelling to face relegation-haunted City at Highfield Road.

Reid said: "Easter is a crucial time and teams at the top end have got to play each other.

"There are bound to be teams dropping points and the beauty of it all is that our destiny is in our own hands.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for us, lying sixth with six matches remaining - something I would certainly have taken at the start of the season.

"It is in our own hands and I think the players are up for it. We are capable of going out and getting the points we need."

Reid is hoping Lady Luck will start to smile on his team after a series of "diabolical" refereeing decisions he feels have cost them a number of precious points.

He said: "We should have had a penalty at Middlesbrough at the start of the week and someone was pulled down running through against Leeds. Some of the decisions have been really poor.

"I sound like a moaner but these are just facts from my point of view.

"It is frustrating because some of these decisions have been vital and have had a say in the outcome of the games."

But Reid believes that his players have the cure for their recent woes - putting the ball away when the opportunity presents itself.

He stressed: "The thing we have to do for our own part is when we create chances to stick them in the net.

"It's not referees who are missing chances, it's us.

"We've got to be sharper in the final third of the pitch and not feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to go out and make it happen and that's what we'll be looking to do."

Recent results might not have gone Sunderland's way but there is no despondency in the camp as the season enters the finishing straight.

Reid said: "The lads' spirits are up.

"Sometimes when things aren't going right you look at them and think that they need picking up.

"But they are bright and breezy and are looking forward to the games ahead."

A lack of goals, apart from the 4-2 victory at Chelsea, have been the main stumbling block.

Reid admitted: "We need to score. Some of the players have been great, but we have huffed and puffed and we haven't stuck the ball into the back of the net and it is crucial that we do.

"It's frustrating for the players and myself because some of the performances have been excellent.

"During the Middlesbrough game, when we were on top and creating chances, they weren't going in the net and you just got the feeling it wasn't going to be our night. I was just happy to keep a clean sheet."

Reid says he has no complaints about the way his team had performed in the recent run.

He said: "The performances have been excellent but the results have been poor. Last season some of the performances were poor but this time we've played well and the players haven't had their just rewards.

Sunderland go into today's game without the services of new England cap Gavin McCann. The midfielder is recovering from a slight knee injury and could be back for Monday's game at Coventry.

Reid intends to share the workload over the hectic three day period among his first-team squad.

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