LAST season Mick McCarthy had a few sleepless nights as he plotted Sunderland's escape from the Championship.

And, after a run of six successive League games without a victory, it looked as if the condition was about to pay another visit as McCarthy sought to keep his side in the Premiership.

Fortunately a 2-0 win against North-East rivals Middlesbrough at the Riverside last weekend ensured the Black Cats boss could avoid another return to restless evenings.

"I'm sleeping well as a Premiership manager. I might have been a bit of an insomniac in the Championship, but the pillow was certainly softer on Sunday night after Middlesbrough," quipped McCarthy who is looking to extend the Wearsiders unbeaten run in all competitions to four this afternoon with a win over West Ham.

The Sunderland boss was quick to hail his side's battling display in securing its first three-point haul in the Premiership this season in last week's derby victory, but even he could not deny both Kelvin Davis and Julio Arca were instrumental in ending the club's 27 games without a top flight victory.

Some fans suggested it was Arca's finest game in a Sunderland shirt. It was certainly the best performance of Davis' fledgling Black Cats career.

McCarthy said he could not comment on whether it was Arca's greatest performance for the club but he did admit it was his most impressive this term.

"There are always those who will take centre stage and steal the limelight and that was Julio's best performance of the season," said McCarthy.

"Julio and Kelvin were terrific on Sunday, and there are others that did a very efficient job.

"Certainly Christian Bassila did and Tommy Miller got his goal. I thought the one guy who didn't get too many plaudits was Andy Gray, who really fought his corner and roughed up their centre-backs. But I thought they all played to their potential.

"Julio's a very talented player. I guess the time is when we've had a really iffy performance and then you look and say who carried us that day when we won 1-0.

"But Julio was excellent. His all-round game, not just that he can keep the ball and create a little bit for us, but he defended and worked exceptionally hard.

"He had that 'je ne sais quoi' on Sunday. He proved that in the last minutes when he's dragging it back with the sole of his foot and he's got Massimo Maccarone on his backside a couple of times.

"I can't give him that and no one else can. That is him and what he has. He has that something special."

West Ham arrive at the Stadium of Light for this afternoon's televised 5.15pm clash as the Premiership's surprise package.

The Hammers, who only secured a place in the top flight following a 1-0 play-off victory against Preston last term, were one of the bookies' favourites for an immediate return to the Championship.

But the eastenders have flourished on their return and currently sit fifth in the table after three wins and two draws from their opening six games.

But, while recognising the Hammers' meteoric rise up the Premiership, McCarthy approaches today's game confident his side can secure a second successive victory.

He said: "West Ham have done fantastically well. But we view West Ham as a game we can win. Liverpool and Chelsea aren't ones we should or are likely to win.

"West Ham have brought in some good players, but their squad is very much the same as when they came up. (Yossi) Benayoun is making everyone sit up and take notice. They're playing with confidence and in Marlon Harewood they've got a big, strong forward. He's one to watch but we knew that before.

"We've got to get back to how we've been in the last couple of seasons by making the Stadium of Light a fortress.

"If you've got a settled side, barring injuries we'll have the same team against West Ham. If you can keep that same 11 it usually means you're doing alright. I'm not going to change it unless there are any problems."

McCarthy has flirted with several different formations so far this season as he strives to get the best out of his team. Last Sunday, however, he reverted to his favoured 4-4-2 for the match against Boro and got his just deserts for throwing caution to the wind.

The Sunderland boss is expected to stick with this winning formula for the Hammers' visit, who also employ a rigid 4-4-2 style.

"I'd like to play 4-4-2 every week but you can't go to a lot of places and do that," confessed McCarthy. "At Boro I had no doubt they'd be 4-4-2 and we could go there and match them up and have a go at them.

"Bassila is suited in a midfield four or three, he was excellent on Sunday, and it gives license to Miller and Arca to get forward with the security of Christian sitting there.

"I saw evidence that we could win a game in the Premiership. I spoke to Tommy to say he was due a goal and it came.

"Performance wise we've been doing alright, it was learning how to win that was the key."