Whitehead eyes away relief

Black Cats looking to end run at Derby

By James Pearson   Last updated: 25th February 2008

Dean Whitehead Sunderland midfield

Whitehead: Wants away-day boost

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Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead says The Black Cats are desperate to end their dismal away run at Derby this weekend.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth meant Roy Keane's charges have now lost their last ten Premier League outings away from The Stadium of Light.

Whitehead is pleased with Sunderland's home form this term, but has acknowledged that come May, the team cannot solely rely on home results in order to stay up.

With Derby having won just one of their 13 games at Pride Park this season, Whitehead believes Saturday is the ideal chance to end their away-day blues, although he knows it will not be a stroll in the park.

No easy games

"Everyone knows how badly Derby are doing this season, but there really are no easy games in the Premier League," he told the Sunderland Echo.

"We'll go there with the right attitude and knowing that we'll have to work very hard to get anything. They'll be as desperate and keen as we are to get a result and you know that any side at this level is capable of getting a result.

"But we know we need to do a lot better away from home and we'll go to Derby looking to put things right.

"We know it will be tight until the end of the season, particularly if we continue this way away from home.

"Our home results have been as good as anyone's in this league but we can't rely on that entirely. Hopefully we can start changing things next weekend."