By Martin Walker

Sunderland assistant manager Eric Black has praised Darlington's performance after they nearly held the Wearsiders to a goalless draw - and is tipping Mark Cooper to do well at the Northern Echo Arena.

Black, who stepped in for manager Steve Bruce yesterday, worked with Cooper at Birmingham when he was with Bruce at St Andrews and Cooper was working with the youth set-up.

And he reckons Darlo will do well under the stewardship of the former Kettering boss.

"I thought Darlington did really well," said Black.

"I know Mark Cooper, he used to come in at Birmingham with the younger team.

"I spoke to him before the game, he's really delighted with the opportunity he's been given.

"I'm sure he'll do well. Like everybody else, we're keen to see them up at the top of the league and challenging to come straight back up.

"He'll get them organised, as we saw on Saturday. He's really enthusiastic, he'll get them playing."