Boro is not the real derby for Sunderland - Le Bris

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said that in his mind Saturday's match with Middlesbrough will not count as a real derby.

The game at the Stadium of Light (12:30 BST) will be the 154th meeting of the Wear-Tees derby, with Sunderland leading the rivalry 62-54.

"The most important derby from my knowledge is Newcastle," the Frenchman, who was appointed in June, told BBC Newcastle.

"Middlesbrough is an interesting fixture but I am not sure for the fans that we play a specific derby this Saturday."

Sunderland sit second in the Championship, but suffered their first defeat of the season last Saturday away to Plymouth Argyle.

They entertain a Boro side who are 10th with eight points from their opening five games.

But, ahead of his first involvement in this fixture, former Lorient coach Le Bris is expecting a real test from Michael Carrick's Teessiders.

"It will be an interesting game with a different style," he said. "They are a well-organised side, in and out of possession, with specific attention in the way of building the game.

"We will have specific attention on many details and it will be interesting for us to solve that problem."