Sunderland away form is not a worry, says Andy Reid

Reid signed for Sunderland in January 2008 for a fee of �5m from Charlton

Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid has played down the significance of the club's patchy away form in contrast to their excellent home results.

The Wearsiders have won five games at home but correspondingly lost five on the road with a sole defeat and win in reply in the Premier League.

"You can blow things out of proportion," Reid told BBC Newcastle.

"Football is a results-driven game. You don't always get what you deserve but most of the time you do."

Saturday's game pits Steve Bruce's Sunderland side against Fulham, a side who have battled relegation fears to become a tidy mid-table side with European experience under manager Roy Hodgson.

And away from home at the intimate Craven Cottage is an experience the former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest schemer has fond memories of during his career so far.

"I've always enjoyed playing at Fulham," he said. "They've always been decent enough games.

"Since I've been at Sunderland we've picked up a couple of good results down there and hopefully that continues.

"We're fully aware it's going to be a very difficult game, they're a strong team and they're organised and they've got quality as well.

"So we've got to impose our quality on the game, mix it up a little bit and hopefully get the result we need."

Republic of Ireland international Reid joined Sunderland from Charlton in January 2008 for a fee of £5m and has since made 66 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals.