WANDERERS will face a united front from Sunderland on Saturday as players and fans join forces to answer new manager Mick McCarthy's call for the start of a sensational revival.

McCarthy plans to walk out on to the turf at the Stadium of Light to greet the crowd ahead of the crunch game.

The new manager hopes to raise supporters' spirits by acknowledging them on match day as well as taking the opportunity to applaud them for their support since his arrival.

He said: "I'll expect to meet the fans before the game - it's something I'll look forward to.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's all part and parcel of the game and it's important to begin building bonds as soon as possible."

McCarthy plans to give the fans something of a show on Saturday.

He told the Sunderland Echo : "I expect every player to fight on Saturday. It's the least that any player can offer.

"I need to earn their respect and they need to earn mine but they'll do all right by me if they show a desire and an appetite."

He added: "Everyone in the game knows about Sunderland fans - and I'm not just saying that as a manager hoping to butter up supporters - they're famous for their passion and I love that.

"I think we've got to remember that it's their club above anyone's.

"Long after Mick McCarthy, all the current players and the board at the moment have gone, the supporters will still be here, still paying their money and coming to support the club they love.

"They may have been booing a lot lately, but I personally know that's not why they come to see Sunderland Football Club.

"They come here to see their heroes, they come here to be entertained and they come here to support the team which means so much to them.

"The fact is that they want to get behind us and I'm going to make sure that come Saturday, myself and the players give them every reason to do just that."