RELIEVED Mick McCarthy believes Sunderland are slowly getting to grips with life in the Premiership after claiming their first win of the season at Middlesbrough yesterday.

The Black Cats' 2-0 victory at the Riverside was their first success in the Premiership since December 2002.

And, after watching his side move off the bottom thanks to goals from Tommy Miller and Julio Arca, McCarthy now feels his side have a platform to build on.

"It's a nice feeling to be able to talk about winning," said McCarthy. "I think we've learned how to play in this league.

"We got used to winning last year but this season we have had to suffer and I've had to talk up performances.

"The important part was learning how to win so hopefully that will help us believe in ourselves. Today is a reward for sticking together and working hard.

"It's a great result away from home and we have West Ham at home now so there will be expectations of us."

Before yesterday's Tees-Wear derby win, Sunderland had lost five of their opening six Premiership games.

However, McCarthy insists morale at the Stadium of Light has been good, despite their poor start.

"There's never really been any doom and gloom," added McCarthy. "You only have to look around the place to see that, even before today."

McCarthy was quick to single Kelvin Davis out for praise after the Sunderland goalkeeper kept Boro at bay with several good saves.

Davis has not had the best of starts to his Black Cats career since moving to the Stadium of Light from Ipswich during the summer. The stopper was at fault for West Bromich Albion's late equaliser nine days ago having already come under fire for a goal conceded against Wigan.

However, McCarthy believes Davis has gone a long way to silence his critics.

"I thought it was a terrific performance from him," said McCarthy. "I have the utmost faith and belief in him.

"Everyone wanted to blame him for the goal last week and I said he would pull it out of the fire which he did today."

A fortnight after beating Arsenal, Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren felt the Black Cats brought his side down to earth with a bang.

"The conclusion is that only we can get out of this," said McClaren. "Two weeks ago we were all heroes after beating Arsenal. But in football you sometimes have a fall and we had one today."

If the Teessiders' are to drag themselves out of their current mire, McClaren believes solidarity is the key to an upturn in their fortunes.

"We've got to stick together and only we can solve it," said McClaren. "There's a bit of inconsistency at the moment and we've got to find the right blend and balance to our team which we didn't have today.

"It is a concern but we have been in this position before, we've got good players and the answers are in that dressing room."

George Boateng was twice denied an equaliser by Davis, before Arca put the game beyond Boro with a brilliantly crafted free-kick on the hour mark.

"We created so many chances and their keeper made some great saves," said McClaren. "We were playing some good football and going for it, but I think that second goal killed us.

"All our goalkeeper had to do was pick the ball out of the net twice and that's what happens sometimes.

"But credit to Sunderland. They came here, got the early goal and stuck to it."

McClaren will now turn his attentions to Boro's European exertions as they prepare for Thursday's Uefa Cup first round return leg against FC Xanthi in Greece.

The Teessiders lead 2-0 from the first leg as they look to book their place in the group stages of the competition.

"The great thing is that we play on Thursday," said McClaren. "We will focus on that and get through in Europe.

"The target is to get through into the group stages."

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