A great result at the weekend and the continued team strengthening – it's hard not to be positive.

But that positivity could take a dent if we don't get a result against Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup tonight.

Regular readers of this column will realise this is a change of tune for yours truly.

Normally I don't put much stead in the league cup, and I'm not alone as many managers choose to field weakened sides – particularly in the early stages of the competition.

But while I'm not now saying we should go on and win it (although it would be nice if anyone is listening upstairs), I do feel a cup run would be beneficial.

The way I look at it is this: winning and losing can become a habit, so it is better to make the former your common practice.

Like I say, everyone is on a high at the moment and long may that continue.

And the best way to make sure of that is to keep picking up the right results.

Last season was all about survival for the Black Cats, but now it's time to push on.

That means doing well in both league and cups.

OK, the Premier League is still our bread and butter, but nothing lifts the fans like a good cup run.

And if the red and white faithful are on a high, then it really will be like having the proverbial 12th man behind the lads on the pitch.

So no doubt Roy Keane will have his team fired up for this one, particularly as it marks the return to the ground where it all started for him in English football.

Not that I expect tonight's game to be easy. If anything, it has all the hallmarks of a banana skin.

We may have beaten the Tricky Trees in pre-season, but that will count for nothing when the game kicks off.

There's no doubt that Forest will be up for it, and with a tribute to the genius that was Brian Clough planned before kick-off, emotions will be running high at the City Ground.

It is in that kind of atmosphere that cup giant-killings are made, but hopefully we will have more than enough about us to get the job done.

I've no doubt that Sunderland's travelling support will pay their own fitting tribute to Old Big 'Ed (which is how Cloughie sometimes referred to himself) tonight.

The man was a true legend of the game and football is the poorer for having lost him.

And Sunderland more than most have a lot to be grateful for.

Not only was he a great striker for the club, but he helped to mould Keane into the man and the manager that he has become.

For that alone, we should be truly grateful.

Keep the faith.