STANLEY boss John Coleman insists his side will not fear Sunderland when the Black Cats visit East Lancashire on Saturday.

The two sides face off for the first time ever when they meet in League One and it is just 15 years on from when the Reds were a non-league side and Sunderland were in the top flight.

It is a fixture which has attracted plenty of nationwide attention given the gulf in resources with the Reds operating on the lowest budget in the third tier and Sunderland the highest.

But Coleman is concerned by what happens on the pitch rather than off it.

"I think everyone was making a noise about this fixture last year before either of us were in this league," he said.

"With 10 games to go last season everyone was licking their lips at the prospect of 'little' Accrington Stanley playing huge Sunderland.

"It is going to create attention, it will be fantastic atmosphere and a record crowd and I know for a fact that whatever the result the Sunderland fans will enjoy their experience here.

"It is well documented that they have got the highest budget but it is 11 v 11 and we believe we have a good team who are capable of winning games and they are going to have to be at their best if they are going to beat us."

He added: "We won't be going in with an inferiority complex, I don't care what the stature or the budget of their club is by the time 3pm comes on Saturday our lads will be out there with their chests sticking out believing they are the best in the world."