CAUTIOUS Sunderland manager Peter Reid last night warned home fans in a full-house Stadium of Light crowd not to expect a slaughter against bottom-club Bradford City tomorrow.

The struggling Yorkshire club was the last side to win a Premiership game on Wearside back in April and red-and-white supporters, delighted with their favourites' second-top placing, will be expecting in-form Sunderland to go to town as they chase their first double of the season.

But Reid sounded a warning when he said: "Bradford City are fighting for their Premiership lives and it will be a really hard game.

"I know it is a sell-out and that just shows how big the Sunderland fans think the game is.

"Anyone who thinks we will be two or three goals up after 20 minutes better think again and we will have to be patient.

"We are desperate for three points to maintain our position in second place in the table and try to keep ahead of the pack while chasing leaders Manchester United.

"But Bradford will be fighting for different reasons and will be desperate for a result against us.

"I feel it is going to be a very difficult match."

Sunderland won 4-1 at Valley Parade on Boxing Day, a performance Reid believes was one of Sunderland's best of the season, and they will be odds-on favourites to make it five home Premiership victories in a row in front of the Sky television cameras.

Sunderland have taken 25 points from their last ten League games and their 2-0 victory at West Ham in front of new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson hoisted them into second place above Arsenal.

Confidence is sky high in the Sunderland camp and Reid is delighted with the way his team have handled the pressure near the top of the table, proving their resilience by coming from behind to win their FA Cup third-round replay at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Reid said: "The players feel pleased with the way thinks are going and they just want to play football - matches can't come around quickly enough.

"This is a match we are really looking forward to and if we can get a result it makes our next League game against Manchester United a lively one."

Sunderland have finished their matches very strongly this season and their physical and mental stamina has pleased the manager.

He said: "We are very strong - our attitude, commitment and fitness level is really good and I think they feel it themselves.

"At Selhurst Park Kevin Phillips was feeling discomfort from his shins on the hard pitch in the last 15 minutes of normal time but he said he'd give me an extra 15 minutes and a goal and he came up with both."

Sunderland go into tomorrow's game without Slovakian central defender Stanislav Varga, who is suspended for one game following his dismissal in the home cup tie against Palace, and his place goes to crowd favourite Jody Craddock.

Reid said: "I have no hesitation in bring back Craddock, who has been unlucky to be left out.

"He has been fantastic this season - he has never every let us down and is one of the stalwarts of the squad."

Niall Quinn has recovered from a recurring back injury and plays