SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid accepts his side's First Division play-off final against Charlton today is the most important game of his managerial career. And although he has a more than healthy respect for Alan Curbishley and his team, Reid is confident his men are too good for the Addicks if they play at their best and that Sunderland will secure the third Premiership promotion spot. A relaxed Reid said: "This is a massive, massive game for Sunderland Football Club, and it's one which I am confident my lads can win - if they are at their best. But before we start to talk about the Premiership we've got a very tough game to win first. There's no way we'll underestimate the challenge we face from Charlton. I've been saying for some time now that they are a fine side who play good football. They had a tremendous run and proved that they're up there with the best in the Division, that they're a side who will make it difficult for us. And they also have Clive Mendonca playing for them, who's a great striker and a big Sunderland fan, I hear. That will add a bit of spice, but he won't dare come back up here for a while if he scores the winning goal! "But honestly, on the day if we play well and they play well, then we're the better side. Although we drew both League games I thought we were the better side down there and were unfortunate not to beat them. We had Alex Rae sent-off and were unfortunate not to get a penalty. Whatever happens the players have been magnificent this season, but I've just got the feeling they're going to do it." One of the most influential players in Reid's side, the former England schoolboy star Lee Clark, is confident his experience gained playing for his country at Wembley will come in handy on Monday afternoon. And the 25-year-old believes one thing is guaranteed - that a capacity crowd will see a fine tie. "I think Wembley will suit our style of play," said Clark. Both sides are capable of playing fluid football to entertain the crowd. Charlton are a good side and although they don't normally play as wide across the pitch as us, they will provide us with a real test of both our character and ability." After moving from Newcastle United to Wearside last summer for £2.5million, Clark has become an instant hit with the Sunderland supporters - even though they accept he will not lose his affection for the Magpies. "I was down at the FA Cup final last Saturday and really enjoyed the atmosphere, he confessed. The Newcastle supporters were brilliant in defeat, but hopefully we can turn things around and give the Sunderland fans a win and promotion to celebrate on Monday night. "Newcastle lost because the game didn't go to plan and it left the fans disappointed afterwards, but they got to Wembley and gave it their best shot. Hopefully, we can do what three other North East clubs Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Tow Law Town - haven't managed at Wembley this season and come away with a famous victory. "We can certainly win it if we get the ball out to our wide men, because I am sure they can cause a lot of damage. But then it's up to the rest of us, the likes of myself, to get into the box and support them. "Our supporters on Monday can make a hell of a difference. We've sold 40,000 tickets and could have sold 60-70,000 if they'd been available. We've played some exciting football and hopefully they'll be in full voice on Monday to help us deliver them a Premiership place for next season." Both of Sunderland's frontline strikers Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips have shrugged off injuries and Peter Reid has a full-strength squad to choose from.

CHARLTON'S BOWEN GLAD HE'S NOT BIG IN JAPAN   MARK BOWEN, Charlton's former Welsh international full-back, is now glad that the Japanese club he joined little more than a year ago didn't renew an option on his contract. Instead Bowen, 34, now lines up for Charlton against Sunderland in the Premiership promotion play-off decider this afternoon. Bowen had decided to top up the earnings from an impressive League career at Tottenham, Norwich and West Ham with a handsome pay cheque offered by J-League club Shimizu Pulse, whose manager is former Spurs and Argentina star Ossie Ardiles. He settled for the prospect of three lonely years 6,000 miles away from his wife and family to make sure that his eventual retirement from the game would be cushioned by a bulging pension fund. ''But I hated that first year,'' Bowen confessed. ''The actual football and the training, even though it was nearly always done in boiling heat, was OK but the long hours on my own stuck in a hotel room were terrible. When it came to the club renewing my contract after the first year I was almost dreading it. Fortunately they let me go and I remembered talking to Charlton manager Alan Curbishley before I went to Japan. He said provided my form and fitness were OK he would like to sign me if I ever came back to Britain. What I didn't expect was for the club to do as well as we have. It's like a dream to be playing in this huge match at Wembley - especially knowing Premiership football is on the end of the right result for me again. Charlton captain Mark Kinsella, however, has admitted he has put his international future at risk by leading Charlton in Monday's Premiership promotion decider instead of collecting his third Republic of Ireland cap against Mexico in Dublin. "But if I'm playing Premiership football next season it's got to be beneficial for me with the Republic, he explained. I would be up against top players from all over Europe every week and that can only improve my game, as well as get me noticed more. If I'd played against Mexico I might have been able to do myself a bit of good for the qualifiers against Croatia and Yugoslavia early next season. But how can you dip out of a Premiership promotion final? It's the biggest game in Charlton's history and as captain I've got to be there. The ideal would have been to play in both games, but although I feel pretty fit I don't think I'm quite that fit. Addicks boss Alan Curbishley faces just one selection dilemma in midfield for the game. Should he risk John Robinson for his first match in eight weeks after a hairline fracture of the right leg or play Paul Mortimer who has had just 20 minutes in the last five games? Or should he keep faith with on-loan Neil Heaney from Manchester City? Superstition suggests Heaney would be the best option. Charlton have never lost since Heaney arrived at The Valley in March. Veteran Mark Bright is likely to partner Mendonca up front with Steve Jones moving to the subs' bench.

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