Their recent records could not be more different – but Villa boss Martin O’Neill is adamant sinking Sunderland will be every bit as tough as winning at Manchester United.

While the claret and blues’ 1-0 weekend triumph at Old Trafford was their first for 26 years, the Stadium of Light has proven a far less taxing venue for them in recent years. October’s Carling Cup penalty shoot-out success made it three wins and a draw from their last four trips to Wearside.

But O’Neill insists prising three points from the mid-table Black Cats, who have lost just one of their eight Premier League home games this term, will require the same monumental effort from his players that was served up on Saturday.

The manager has warned Steve Bruce’s boys will be primed to bring them back down to earth with a bump tonight if they take their eyes off the ball.

He said: “It’s important to put everything into context. I’m delighted we won and by winning at Old Trafford, I am sure it will give us a bit more confidence.

“But I’m sure the players are totally aware the Sunderland game will be just as difficult. Just because we won at Old Trafford doesn’t mean we can win anywhere. Anyone can win somewhere, sometime given a set of circumstances. I don’t want to play it down.

“It was a great win for us, first time at United for 26 years but I don’t think the players will get too carried away with it. The Premier League for us is so difficult. I can’t prevent the way people will speculate on things.

“You look at certain results and draw some conclusion, which I know is a million miles from the real aspect of it all. These players won against Chelsea, there was a break then, and had to play a derby against Wolves which was always going to be hard for us.

“We didn’t play well against Wolves but it was always going to be hard. But I don’t think because we beat Chelsea we automatically thought the next game would be straightforward, and I don’t think the top teams think like that. That is why they have a consistency of results.”

O’Neill has warned there is no time for them to bask in the glory of their stunning success at Old Trafford.

He said: “Because the games come so quickly, you just don’t get the time. We’re playing tonight so you don’t even get two or three days to think about it. We’ve won, we’re delighted to have won but we’re at it again tonight.

‘That prevents us from having any glowing thoughts about it.”

The Villa boss will contemplate freshening up his team for the clash after Saturday’s draining duel.

Asked if the game would take more out of his players physically and emotionally, O’Neill replied:  “Absolutely. That is a point.

“I think we have a stronger squad than last season but despite Saturday’s great result, those type of things I’ll be giving some great consideration to.

“I’ll see how the players are. The other lads are desperate to play, which is great, and most of the team will tell you they want to play again.

“But players in good form playing will tell you that anyway. But I will monitor it because it’s three games in quick succession with Stoke on Saturday.”

John Carew would be the most obvious candidate to return to the side, with Emile Heskey the likely man to make way, while Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and Habib Beye will all hope for recalls.

But O’Neill revealed James Collins would be unlikely to start despite coming off the bench on Saturday – because the defender remains short of match fitness.

The manager said: “James declared himself fit which is great. He hasn’t done very much work at this minute, but I was pleased to see him back again.

“I am not sure at this minute whether he would be absolutely right to start a game. It sounds crazy to have someone on the bench like that who might last the matches at this minute but overall I’ve been delighted with him.

“While in his absence the team has done fine, he’s made a big impact since he has been here. Much will depend on Stephen Warnock’s fitness.”

Tonight’s game marks the start of four crucial league games between now and the end of the year, with Stoke visiting on Saturday before a trip to Arsenal and the Villa Park showdown with Liverpool during Christmas week.

O’Neill reckons the quartet of games could have a huge bearing on the course of Villa’s campaign.

He continued: “The games we’ve got coming up between now and the new year are big matches. These four games will give us a pointer to the way the second half of the season holds.

“We’ve got these games coming up, a couple of semi-finals to look forward to in January, and that’s about it really.”

The Villa boss admits the Black Cats will still be bristling from their weekend draw with Portsmouth after conceding at the death.

He added: “We will find it very tough at Sunderland and we hope we can come away with something. At home they don’t lose many. They will be disappointed to have conceded a late goal and they will be right up for the game.

“The games are coming thick and fast.”