IT might not be the way many Sunderland fans would warm up for the latest meeting with Newcastle United, but Martin O'Neill thinks lavishing praise on Alan Pardew's team for their achievements last season is warranted.

But rather than make too much of Newcastle's high finish in May, O'Neill wants his own squad to merely use the success of those from Tyneside as a template for those in red and white.

While there are only two points separating the rivals ahead of tomorrow's meeting at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats are well aware of the Magpies' placing last season.

Pardew guided Newcastle to fifth place in the Premier League ahead of Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool after building on the glow they had around them after winning on Wearside in August last year.

Sunderland, on the other hand, struggled to progress. After Steve Bruce was sacked in the November, O'Neill revitalised a season by lifting them out of relegation trouble and taking them to a FA Cup quarter-final.

But Sunderland still finished 20 points shy of their North-East neighbours, which is why O'Neill thinks his team can take something from the way Newcastle attacked last season - even if he was surprised by just how well they did.

"We should take our lead from them in that sense - it was an exceptional season," said the Sunderland boss. "This time last year I wasn't working, I was looking at it from afar. When the results were coming in on a Saturday and Newcastle were going strong I probably felt like a lot of people that they would do well to keep it going.

"But they kept it going, they had a few hiccups along the way but managed to fight back again in big games when they weren't paying well. That is a sign of a half decent side. So they deserve all the accolades they have got."

O'Neill and Pardew have settled their differences after chatting a couple of times since their first Wear-Tyne battle in March, when they had to be separated a few times by the fourth official.

But the Sunderland manager insists his kind words about his rivals have nothing to do with trying to play down any rivalry.

"It's not to diffuse any situation - that's how I view it and it was a terrific achievement," said O'Neill. "Alan Pardew won manager of the year and he deserved that so it was a terrific effort. Winning on Sunday should give us the type of lift we are looking for here.

"Our aim at some stage or other is to at least be the best side in this part of the world and if you are a better side than Newcastle and they have continued to make progress then it must mean you are doing OK."

For Sunderland to keep Newcastle's attacking talents at bay then O'Neill has already identified Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba as the main threats to stifle.

Cisse is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League this season, while Ben Arfa and Ba are the only Newcastle players to have found the net.

"They have proven they are one of the best strikeforces in the league. They are strong, they can score goals," said O'Neill. "They might not feel as if they've been as prolific this season but the season is really still in its infancy. As for us we have [Steven] Fletcher, and Fletcher, and Fletcher! He's the only one scoring goals for us at the minute. That won't go on for us."

After the international break, O'Neill is hoping £10m man Adam Johnson - who left Newcastle's academy as a schoolboy - will be in the shape and frame of mind to come good for Sunderland.

The Sunderland manager said: "I think we can expect better from him now. We're starting to get into the nitty-gritty of matches and we should see that.

"We've played six games since August time but there's no real international break between now and the Spring and he should now start to feel a bit better."