Football: BLACK CATS TALKING IT UP; SUND'LAND v CHARLTON TODAY, KICK-OFF 3PM.

MICK McCARTHY has promised "a kick up the backside" for anyone writing off Sunderland's Premiership chances.

The Black Cats boss has banned his players from setting the traditional target of finishing fourth-from-bottom - believing it promotes negative thinking.

McCarthy is on a mission to "keep proving people wrong" by defying the bookies, who reckon the Wearsiders are 8-13 favourites for relegation.

Sunderland play Charlton at the Stadium of Light today, looking to buck the trend of promoted clubs going straight back down.

Asked if he took hope from West Brom, Norwich and Crystal Palace, who made such a close fight of the relegation battle last season, McCarthy was bristling.

He said: "I don't want to be compared with them. Taking optimism from those clubs only going down on the last day suggests I'm going to be struggling all season.

"It might transpire that way but we've not even kicked a ball yet. Success would be top 10. I know what you all want me to say (that a good season would be avoiding the drop) and I'm not going to say it.

"I've told the lads if they say it I'd kick them up the backside, so I'm not going to say it.

"We're going to go in there and compete. I can't do anything about what the bookies do, or the pundits say."

McCarthy has remoulded his squad - spending just pounds 4million - adding 10 new faces including Jon Stead, Kelvin Davis and Andy Gray.

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