KARL Robinson is excited for the challenge posed by Sunderland in tomorrow's crunch Sky Bet League One clash.

The Black Cats have slowly found form since Alex Neil took over as manager in February, claiming 14 points from their last six matches.

Despite a storied history, Sunderland are playing in League One for the fourth successive season and there has often been nothing in it when they face the U's.

Five of their eight meetings this century have ended level, although United have not beaten the Black Cats since April 1994 - a run of 12 matches.

READ MORE: Karl Robinson relishing Sunderland clash - but knows where his side must improve

Nevertheless, Robinson suggested the U's see tomorrow’s opponents as equals.

United's head coach said: “They’re an incredible club, a club we’ve been competing with at the top of the table for a while now.

“We look at these teams and think we belong on the same pitch, these are the games you want to be competing in.”

Robinson added: “They’ve got unbelievable players in big areas and we’re under no illusions of how difficult it’s going to be.

“They’ve probably got one of the most exciting front fours in the league, people who have played at the top level who have gone for big money.

“You know on any given day they can turn a team over.

“They’re very strong, very structured and very settled team at the moment.

“You don’t see many changes and that gives them tremendous balance.

“But because he’s a good coach you can coach against it, and that’s something I look forward to.”

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Sunderland were third in League One when they sacked manager Lee Johnson after a 6-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers at the end of January.

The 40-year-old and Robinson were in opposite dugouts for a fiery clash at the Stadium of Light last April, with the U's head coach and then assistant boss Jamie McAllister receiving lengthy touchline bans as a result.

United's manager has great respect for Neil and Johnson, despite his public differences with the latter.

Robinson said: “I’ve known Alex for a long time, wherever he’s gone he’s quite strong in his opinions, he’s calculated in his assessment of games.

"He’s an all-round good fella, but so is Johnno.

"Away from football, me and Lee get on - just sometimes I have to create opportunities with teams to make things a bit more exciting for ourselves.

"It would be a boring world if we all got on and we all thought everyone was lovely."