KEVIN Davies plans to use Sunderland’s famously vociferous supporters to Wanderers’ advantage when he travels to the Stadium of Light.

Roy Keane’s side have struggled to appease their huge fanbase this season, winning only three of their nine home games – one of which was on penalties against the Whites’ own Carling Cup victors, Northampton Town.

Davies hopes to capitalise on their uncharacteristic generosity to earn his own side their second win in the North East in eight days, following the impressive 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough.

“They are struggling a little bit at the moment,” the striker said. “I watched them lose to West Ham last weekend and they couldn’t break them down with two big lads up front.

“West Ham defended really well and I’m sure we can go there and put in the same kind of performance.

“The 35 or 40,000 fans they get up there are soon going to start turning on them, so we have got to try and start the game positively.

“The fact they have been better away from home probably shows they feel under a bit of pressure playing in front of their own fans, so we have to use that to our own advantage.”

Last weekend’s victory at the Riverside, described by Davies as “the perfect away display”, was watched intently by Keane from the stands.

And the Wanderers striker is not expecting the Black Cats boss to rest on his laurels during his side’s sticky patch of form.

“I think their players will know their manager isn’t going to let them get away with anything less than 100 per cent,” he said. “He was a winner as a player and even though people tell me he has calmed down as a manager, he is still a born winner. You don’t take that out of someone.”

But Davies remains positive that Wanderers can cement their mid-table position.

“The last two times we have been up that way – Hull and Middlesbrough – it has been back to the old Bolton ways really,” the striker said. “We’re going to Sunderland high in confidence and you’ve got to think you can go there and get something. I really believe we can.”

Davies was speaking at Wanderers’ Euxton training base, where he was giving a guided tour to a group of young people from the Prince’s Trust.

He is currently the club’s Trust ambassador, a role he has enjoyed for the last 12 months.

“Personally, I get a lot from it,” he said. “Danny Shittu helped out last week with a motivational speech, which was really good, and this week I’m doing a bit with a group of kids and showing them round the training ground.

“I think this club tries to get involved in the community and get them involved as much as it can – it is really important. Some players might turn their noses up at it, but you don’t find many like that in our squad. I did quite a lot with the Prince’s Trust group I had last year and this is the second time I have met these guys. I have met some really interesting people and it’s nice to think we can help them out a little bit.”