AFTER identifying West Brom as the blueprint for Premiership survival, Mick McCarthy has admitted that his Sunderland side need to win two of their next five games to have any chance of emulating the Baggies' dramatic escape act.

While the Black Cats boss has been forced to accept the harsh realities of life in the top-flight, he has clung to Bryan Robson's achievements as proof that a shocking start does not inevitably lead to relegation.

Last season, the Baggies took just 11 points from their first 20 games but, after Robson replaced Gary Megson, their improved form saw them scramble to safety on the final afternoon.

By attracting the likes of Kieran Richardson and Kevin Campbell in January, Robson was able to provide his squad with the momentum they needed to spark a lengthy winning run.

Despite not having a sizeable sum to spend, McCarthy remains hopeful of making signings of his own when the transfer window re-opens at the turn of the year. But the Sunderland manager is honest enough to admit that players will be reluctant to join if the club's fate is already sealed.

To have a realistic chance of survival, the Black Cats need to be no worse off than the Baggies were at an identical stage. That means picking up six more points in the next five games, hardly a simple task given they have only accumulated five from the previous 15.

"West Brom had 11 points after 20 games and if there's one statistic that is keeping me going, it's that," said McCarthy, who will lead his side into battle at Spurs this afternoon. "We want to do ourselves justice and there is still time to do that.

"But we need to be in a position where we are able to attract players in January. How are we going to attract anyone who doesn't think we have a realistic chance of staying in the Premier League?

"By the time we have played 20 games, we have to be level with where West Brom were at that stage. Ideally, of course, we would like to be better.

"To do that, we need points and, at the moment, we are finding those points hard to come by. We need some results and we need them as quickly as possible."

Wise enough words, but there has been little in Sunderland's last three performances to suggest anything other than a convincing home win this afternoon.

Last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Birmingham represented something of a nadir, with McCarthy blasting his players in public for their perceived lack of belief.

Wednesday night's game with Liverpool was no more productive in terms of points, but it at least suggested that Sunderland's players were willing to give their all in an attempt to turn things round.

The club's supporters seemed to acknowledge as much and, while the occasional chant was directed at chairman Bob Murray, McCarthy and his players were spared the abuse that was hurled in their direction four days earlier.

The former Republic of Ireland manager has always defended the fans' right to make their feelings known. But, with his younger players struggling to cope with the pressure, he has revealed the way in which their lives are being turned upside down.

"Whenever you go out, you feel as though you're letting people down," said McCarthy. "Some would say we are, because we've lost seven games.

"But that's not intentional. I think you only let people down when you don't try or don't play to the best of your ability. Other than 20 minutes against Birmingham, I don't believe that's been the case with us.

"I don't believe we have been letting anyone down because we're not doing it intentionally. That is the general feeling though and it's difficult to escape from it.

"I walk around, I see Sunderland fans, and they don't know what to say to me. They say something that might affect me, but I try not to let it bother me.

"That's me at the age of 46 and with all of my experience in the game. For players who are 19 or 20, that can be extremely difficult to handle.

"Going out for a bite to eat, going to the pictures, or just trying to live a normal life can be hard. You are affecting people's daily lives because you're not winning games. That can be difficult for the players to handle."

Few, if any of them, have experienced anything like they are going through at the moment. Stephen Wright, George McCartney, Julio Arca, Kevin Kyle and Matt Piper were at the club when it imploded in a similarly spectacular fashion three years ago, but all five are currently sidelined through injury.

McCarthy was also present for the final nine games but, by then, the die had been cast. As a player, he prided himself on never having being involved in a protracted battle against the drop.

"I don't have memories of anything like this as a player," he said. "But then again, I don't think too many people do.

"I wonder if you could find a player who's been through it to come and tell us what it feels like - I don't know that you could.

"You have disappointments throughout your football career, but to have a run like we're having is relatively rare.

"I can't say I've experienced it, but what would I say anyway? I can't say 'Don't worry, it'll turn around'. The only way it'll turn around is if we maintain our workrate and start to win some games."

That process begins today in North London, with Sunderland taking on a Tottenham side that have lost just once at White Hart Lane this season.

Arca and Stephen Elliott remain sidelined through injury, so Chris Brown and Liam Lawrence are likely to retain the places in the side.

Tommy Miller faces a late fitness test after straining his hamstring on Wednesday night, but Anthony Le Tallec is available again after being ineligible for the visit of Liverpool.