Tall story underlines Sunderland's ambition

Sunderland supporters already suffering a certain sense of vertigo and illusion, caused by their unlikely second place to Manchester United in the Premiership, may well have experienced some further alarm yesterday morning when they woke to this local backpage headline: "Reid's Very Tall Story". Had their climb up the table just been a Peter Reid invention?

Thankfully for them, there was truth in both the tall story - about the man Reid wants as the eventual replacement for Niall Quinn - and the fact that when United run out at the Stadium of Light this evening it will be Wearside's first first v second meeting for 50 years.

A staggered set of midweek fixtures meant that last night's match at Highbury put Sunderland's second place under threat, but there was no doubting Sunderland's perception of their status at their training ground yesterday. Even Reid, notoriously cautious, responded to a question about the potential noise tonight by saying: "I think they'll be up for it - because it's first v second. I think it will generate the best atmosphere since the Stadium of Light was opened." It amounted to a rallying cry from Reid, whose words and deeds tend to run counter to his cheeky monkey public image.

In seconds Reid reverted to his customary calm, common sense answers. He talked up Manchester United respectfully, said he thinks they will still win the Premiership comfortably regardless if Sunderland win tonight - "I'd be telling lies if I said I thought anyone could catch them" - and sensibly talked down comparisons between Roy Keane and his own central midfielder Gavin McCann.

But there was also a slice of Reid optimism. This club's present situation, financially, in terms of support and not least the playing staff is unrecognisably strong from the last time they defeated United in the league, four years ago - a £40,000 sterling signing from Burnley called John Mullin scoring the winner.

"I've done more looking forward than looking back," said Reid of that day, "but I think this club has a solid base about it and this shows that. I think we've made vast strides, it's just a question of whether we can last the pace. Whether we will do only time will tell."

More evidence of Sunderland's growth came via the tall story. Jan Koller, the Czech Republic's 6ft 7in centre-forward, is the man Reid would like to sign. That Sunderland could afford the estimated £6£8 million sterling Anderlecht want illustrates their economic position. "A player I've looked at, a player I admire," Reid said, "but I wouldn't think Anderlecht are going to do anything at this point in time."

Once Anderlecht exit the Champions League things might be different. In the meantime Reid was delighted to announce that Quinn, along with Emerson Thome and Michael Gray, should be fit for tonight. "I left him out against Ipswich with this game in mind. That speaks volumes."

So did Ferguson's words. "In many ways it's the game of the season," he said, causing further swooning in Sunderland. "For them to be second above Arsenal or Chelsea and all the others is fantastic. It's deserved as well."

Ferguson has Wes Brown available after a one-match ban, but has worries over David Beckham and Paul Scholes.

One other worry for Ferguson could be the state of the pitch. According to Reid: "It's a little bit bobbly." He wasn't joking.

Nor was he when he added: "We all know what happened to them on Sunday and it's very rare they have back to back defeats. Having said that, Liverpool and West Ham have got results against them. So they are beatable." This time tomorrow we shall know if that is another tall story.