Keane attacks Allardyce's tactics

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has lit the blue touchpaper ahead of today's Wear-Tyne derby with a typically honest assessment of Newcastle under Sam Allardyce.

Keane's view of the game he expects at lunchtime today could be seen as an inadvertent insult to his opposite number.

He said: 'He plays percentage football, plays in your half and makes it hard for you. He had an element of success at Bolton playing that way. People should not be critical of Sam Allardyce, far from it, his career has been very good.

'I don't expect them to play it around at the back. They will be looking to put us under constant pressure and, if we want to win, we will have to defend well.

'He has certainly earned the right to manage a big club. We are all different. There is a way I want our team to play, but certain days it is different horses for different courses. The managers I played for have certain principles on the way the game should be played and that has rubbed off on me.'

Allardyce, who was offered the Sunderland job by chairman Niall Quinn before Keane, is sensitive to accusations of the long-ball game.

The former Sunderland captain, who worked under Peter Reid for a year as a youth coach, has discovered the Geordie demand for attractive football is not a myth, but he is determined to stamp his mark on the club.

He was not helped by last week's dreadful defeat to Portsmouth, but Newcastle are unbeaten in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light, while Keane dismissed the Portsmouth defeat as a one-off.

Keane has the option of finally playing Andrew Cole but it is not the presence of that particular former Newcastle striker which adds extra spice to this occasion.

Michael Chopra scored his only Newcastle goal in the 4-0 win at Sunderland two seasons ago and a striker who cost £5million, via Cardiff City, is more likely to start alongside Kenwyne Jones.

Chopra said: 'Of course, I'd love to score. Like any striker I want to score in every game.

'I know what this game means to the fans, I'm a North-East lad and understand the rivalry. It's special and, hopefully, I'll be one of the lucky few to play for both teams.

'Sunderland fans already sing "Chopra's one of us", which is nice.

When you come to a new club you hope the fans will accept you. 'If I do score, I'll celebrate as I celebrate every goal.'