Sunderland Football Club

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Paolo Di Canio

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48353

Spurs test excites Keane

14 Jun 2007 - 11:54:59

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Sunderland manager Roy Keane has set his side the immediate challenge of defeating Tottenham after being drawn against the north London club on the first day of the new Premier League season.

The Black Cats sealed an immediate return to the top-flight after winning the Championship last term, but Keane doesn't expect his side to simply make up the numbers next season.

"It will hopefully be a good start to the season for us," he told the club's official website.

"A home game against Tottenham, a play-good footballing team, it will hopefully be the start of a very good season for us.

"We then have two very tough away games and then it's Liverpool at home and (Manchester) United away - so we can see from the first four or five games how difficult it's going to be.

"But we're looking forward to every game. Of course, there's a few games that stand out, but we will look forward to every single game."

Sunderland's last Premier League campaign ended in the ignominy of relegation with the lowest number of points in top-flight history.

During the 2005-06 campaign the Black Cats - who parted company with former manager Mick McCarthy midway through the season - won just 15 points.