Martin O'Neill may feel like the new kid in school but he knows there will be no chance to ease himself back into football management when his Sunderland side meet fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers Blackburn on Sunday.
The former Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa boss ended more than a year out of the hotseat when he took over at the Stadium of Light last weekend following the sacking of Steve Bruce. Sunderland could already be in the bottom three when they take to the pitch on Sunday depending on results elsewhere, but that will definitely be the case if they lose to Rovers, who currently sit one point and one place behind them.
That his team are at home will be of little comfort to O'Neill given they have picked up only 13 points on Wearside in 2011, while this season's tally of 16 goals in 14 games is another priority area for the new boss. He said of his first week:
"It's been particularly hectic. It's trying to get to know players, backroom staff, and they likewise with me. But the excitement is still there, obviously building up to Sunday's game, and I'm looking forward to it immensely.
"There has always seemed to be a good atmosphere around the place, I just think it's a little bit of confidence that has been lost.
"I really think it's key (getting that back) because when players lose a bit of confidence, it doesn't matter what ability they have, they don't shine in the same fashion. The best way to change that is by winning some football matches as soon as possible.
"We have to address the goalscoring situation, obviously, and as soon as possible. The backroom staff have been telling me that we have been creating chances in games but have been unable to put them away.
"It puts an awful lot of pressure then to try to keep a clean sheet, which is pretty difficult these days."
O'Neill has several injury concerns ahead of his opening game. Striker Nicklas Bendtner has not trained all week because of a groin problem while defender Phil Bardsley has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury but O'Neill is hopeful both will be available. Midfielder Lee Cattermole misses out through suspension after picking up five yellow cards, along with striker Connor Wickham (knee) and goalkeepers Simon Mignolet (fractured nose and eye socket) and Craig Gordon (knee).
It was a surprise to many people that Bruce and not Blackburn's Steve Kean was the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season, but Rovers go into this game on the back of a much-needed win over Swansea last weekend. Unlike Sunderland, they have had no problem scoring goals and, with Ayegbeni Yakubu looking to add to the four he managed last time out, O'Neill knows it will be a tough afternoon.
The Northern Irishman said: "I'm expecting a real physical battle. We have to withstand the sort of pressure we know we're going to be put under. "Our job is to cause them as many problems as possible and galvanise ourselves, and in so doing get the crowd behind us.
"It is really important game for both teams. At this stage of the season I suppose you could say the proverbial six-pointer. The league is so unforgiving. You can't afford to keep losing matches and that is something we have to address."
Martin Olsson (hamstring) will have a fitness test to see if he can make the Blackburn squad. Ruben Rochina is doubtful having suffered a muscle injury while he has also been recovering this week after having his wisdom teeth removed. Steven Nzonzi serves the final game of his three-match suspension while Ryan Nelsen is still short of match fitness. Rovers boss Kean is confident his Blackburn side can spoil O'Neill's debut and claims all the pressure will be on Sunderland's new manager. He said:
"There will be massive expectation on Sunderland, such is the way in that area of the country where the supporters are fanatical. "I think their fans will be expecting that something is going to happen this weekend so there will be big pressure on them.
"There is an expectation now Martin has gone in there and the fans will immediately be thinking there's going to be a change in the way they play. "I certainly think there will be an excitement and a buzz about the place but we've just got to go and do our own business." He added:
"If we win this game we go out of the bottom three and above Sunderland so that's a fantastic carrot to be dangled in front of the players and they are aware of that." end
Sunderland V Blackburn - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: DSG
