Steve Kean reckons all the pressure will be on new Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill when he takes his Blackburn team to the Stadium of Light on Sunday lunchtime (Sunderland 5/6, draw 13/5, Blackburn 7/2).

O’Neill will lead the Black Cats for the first time after taking over from Steve Bruce with the club struggling for form and confidence.

The Blackburn boss is no stranger to pressure and remains under-fire from sections of his own fans but, after recording a 4-2 win over Swansea last time out, he knows a win on Wearside could lift Rovers out of the bottom three.

With only one home win all season for Sunderland fans will expect a lot from O’Neill and Kean knows that, with confidence low, they could struggle to match the expectancy and he wants Blackburn to silence the Stadium of Light (Blackburn 1-0 – 17/2).

The Scot told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I think the fans will have an excitement and an expectancy that their season is going to turn around. I think the pressure is on them because the expectancy is so high.

“If you can grab a bit possession, create a few early chances keep them out of your box and away from your goal, early on then that is a factor in trying to quieten and tame the crowd.”

Blackburn will be without Steve Nzonzi as he is suspended and Kean is expected to give late fitness tests on the duo of Ruben Rochina and Martin Olsson.