Harris: Teams at the top, those are sometimes good ones for us to play

Gillingham boss Neil Harris has labelled the Stadium of Light as a ‘great place to play’, with Sunderland under ‘huge pressure’ to win promotion from League One.

The Black Cats, who dropped to seventh after their free weekend during the interantional break, are looking to get back into a playoff place when the Gills visit Wearside today.

But Harris said: “We have some tough games and sometimes they are the best ones to play.

“Teams that have something to play for, they feel the nervousness of the league table and feel the pressure of the situation, while teams like Accrington (Stanley), all game they played with a carefree attitude, a bit like Bolton (Wanderers), with everything to gain and nothing to lose.

"They can be really dangerous sides. You might get the odd team that don’t fancy it and they might be on the beach, but the majority of times you find teams go and play with a freedom and raise their levels without the fear.

“Teams certainly at the top of the table, with so much to play for, so much to lose, those are sometimes good ones for us to play.”

When asked about what it is like to play at the Stadium of Light, Harris said: “The Stadium of Light is a great place to play our football, probably in front of a crowd of around 30,000, a great atmosphere, huge football club under huge pressure to go up in the playoffs and get promoted this year.

“They have an array of talent, very good players, can play various systems under Alex Neil, who is a vastly experienced manager and we know it is a very tough ask but it is a great one for us, with the form we are in and the confidence and belief that we have in the group."

*Defender Tyrese Dyce looks set to leave Sunderland after just one year at the club.

The 20-year-old left-back, who has also played on the wing, came through the ranks at West Brom before moving to Wearside.

Dyce has played regularly for Sunderland’s under-23s side this season, and scored for the senior team in their 2-1 win over Manchester United Under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy.

He moved to Spennymoor Town on loan last month, and reports now claim he will not be offered a new deal at Sunderland. Dyce made his Spennymoor debut last weekend during a 1-1 draw with Brackley.