The former Manchester United man says the Wearsiders have set their standards against Chelsea and Aston Villa and now need seven more identical performances.

The Black Cats went down 1-0 at home to Chelsea a fortnight ago, but deserved at least a share of the spoils, and won't meet a better team in what's left of the campaign.

Roy Keane's men have four home and three away games left to secure their Premier League survival, starting with West Ham at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.

Bardsley said: "We've looked solid in the last couple of games and made chances for the front lads.

"I think our standards have been high in the last two games and we need to keep that going now.

"Everyone's working very hard for each other and that's got to be the way from here on.

"We were disappointed not to get something against Chelsea, which says a lot about our performance against a very good side.

"They were probably the toughest side we had left to play in the run-in, but it's true that there aren't easy games in this league.

"Confidence has been good since I came here and the way we've played recently has only strengthened that."

Sunderland have grown in stature as a defensive unit.

It took something of a fluke goal by Champions League hopefuls Everton to get them a 1-0 win on Wearside three weeks ago.

And they frustrated title-chasing Chelsea, who only managed to break through with a set-piece, before breaking their away duck with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend – which was only the four game all season that Martin O'Neill's side has failed to score.

Bardsley said: "All credit to the lads because we're defending well as a team.

"The gaffer wasn't too happy when we played Everton because we looked solid enough but didn't create enough.

"I think we've sorted that out and got a better balance. We gave Chelsea and Villa problems going forward."

Bardsley will hope Carlos Edwards can shake off the groin injury that prevented him playing for Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday.

The right-side pair are still developing an understanding, and the right-back said: "I think it's going well between us

"Carlos is a great outlet for the side, and works up and down the line well, so he's always there as support, which is great for me."

West Ham have won as many games on the road as they have at home – six – and were 3-1 winners over Sunderland at Upton Park in October.

The Hammers got a point on their last Premier League visit to Wearside, Yossi Benayoun levelling for the visitors on 72 minutes after Tommy Miller's first-half opener.

Of the Sunderland side that began that game in October 2005, only Dean Whitehead and Nyron Nosworthy are likely to start tomorrow.