We can't expect any gifts from Villans - Le Bris

REGIS Le Bris still feels Sunderland will need to play their best football to get a positive result against Aston Villa, despite their opponents’ poor start to the season.

- By SAM ALLEN

The Black Cats go into tomorrow’s game in high spirits based on their own start to the season as a newly-promoted side, with just one defeat in their first four Premier League outings.

Villa have made great strides overall under the management of the accomplished Unai Emery, competing in the Champions League last season, but they have made an uncharacteristically slow start to this campaign.

They are winless from their first four league games and have yet to score a goal, which they will be desperate to correct tomorrow.

Despite what the early form book may say, they are still an attractive team, so Le Bris knows his players need to be on their game.

“They are a strong team,’ said the Black Cats boss. “They haven't started well, and it’s been below their expectations. But they are a top-six team, no doubt, so we will have to play our best football. We won't get gifts from them, so we have to be at our best.