SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane doesn't buy into the idea that it is the right time to play mid-table West Ham.

While the Black Cats are battling for every point in their bid for Premier League survival, the Irons are comfortably in tenth position with seemingly little to play for.

However, having watched the Hammers beat Blackburn and draw at Everton in their last two outings, Keane is warning his players not to take the east Londoners lightly.

"Sometimes there is a benefit of being in that position - you can relax and play some good football," he observed.

"West Ham come here off the back of a couple of good results and one of the great things about the Premier League is that it's always competitive.

"The reason it is one of the best in the world is that you have to earn the right to win every game.

"In other leagues, teams do take it easy in certain matches but the mentality in this league is you've got to get a result.

"West Ham were unlucky not to beat Everton last week and they will want to build on it.

"The position we're in, it's nonsense to think we can stroll into any game and pick up three points - it's rubbish."

Not since November 2001 have Sunderland won back to back victories in the top flight.

But they have the chance to break that mould against West Ham at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, having recorded their first away win of the season at Aston Villa last week.

And Keane is determined to get the right result in order to change his side's mentality and finally start giving the club's loyal fans what they deserve.

"If any club has let their fans down over the years, it's Sunderland," Keane told the club's official website.

"We've got to do our best not to let them down tomorrow. It's a habit I'm trying to change.

"It's my job to make sure we kick on.

"We're at home, we're on the back of a good result and we need to go for it."