Peter Grant has good memories of the Stadium of Light - he was part of the first visiting team to leave Sunderland's home with a victory.

By CHRIS LAKEY

Peter Grant has good memories of the Stadium of Light - he was part of the first visiting team to leave Sunderland's home with a victory.

The Canaries boss was in the City side which won by a single goal - scored 14 minutes from time by Daryl Sutch - on August 30, 1997.

A repeat this weekend would continue Grant's away sequence as manager, and keep City in with a shout of holding down a play-off spot by Christmas.

Having won his first away game in charge, at Birmingham, Grant then suffered a 5-0 thumping at Stoke. The next trip, to West Brom, ended in another 1-0 win, but yet again City couldn't follow it up, going down 3-1 in the East Anglian derby at Portman Road.

If sequences are to be followed, it could be a good day on Wearside, although no one needs to be told that Sunderland had the better of it when they were at Carrow Road just a month ago.

“I expect the same as the last one - very, very difficult,” said Grant. “I thought they were the better side on the day against us here.

“We only got the one chance and Earnie buried it for us.

“They've had a run of games, they have a bit of confidence about them. Roy (Keane) has got them playing the way he wants them to play, they have got a few results at difficult places, and they have won well at home.

“They are getting a combination of results which are all positives. You go to the Stadium of Light and it is always a difficult game. I have good memories going there - Norwich were the first side ever to beat them at the Stadium of Light and I was fortunate enough to play in that so hopefully we will see a similar outcome this weekend.”