Phil Bardsley has warned his Sunderland team-mates to take nothing for granted as they chase their first away win of the season at Derby.The Black Cats may never have a better chance to end their away drought than at Pride Park, where the Rams have collected three points only once during the current campaign, against Newcastle.

However, Bardsley knows Paul Jewell's men will be fighting for pride if nothing else - they are currently 10 points drift at the bottom of the table - and will not give up without a scrap.

The 22-year-old full-back said: "We know it is going to be a difficult game - you can't just say because it is Derby and they are bottom of the league that it is going to be easy.

"We know it's going to be difficult - the top teams have been there and found it quite difficult.

"But I am sure we will go there and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully come away with three points."

Sunderland have taken only two of the 42 points they have contested away from home to date, and it is a measure of the strength of their recent home form that they head south four points clear of the drop zone.

They have failed to score in nine of their 14 games on their travels, and Bardsley admits an early strike this weekend could prove invaluable.

He said: "As long as the goals come, that's the main thing. It doesn't matter when they come. But it would be nice to get an early goal.

"But it is just about enjoying the game more than anything and not worrying about the pressure of, 'You must win this that or the other'.

"Obviously, you have got to win, but if we play like we can play, as we have been doing of late, then I am sure we can come away with three points."

Roy Keane's side have won five of their last seven home games in the league to give themselves a genuine cance of survival.

However, with in-form Everton and fellow Champions League hopefuls Chelsea heading for the Stadium of Light before a tough trip to Aston Villa, that record will come under intense pressure.

Bardsley said: "We know the two home games are difficult as well as the Villa game, but our main focus at the minute is just taking a game at a time, and that's now Saturday.

"If we get three points, that would give us a good stepping stone going into the Everton game."

Danny Collins is suspended for Saturday's game, while Liam Miller's participation is by no means certain after he was transfer-listed this week.

But Kieran Ricardson is rated at 50-50 to return from a hamstring problem after being left out of the reserve team fixture in midweek.

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