O'SHEA ADMITS BEING DOZY

"The Arsenal result was a good wake-up call for us. We'd been comfortable and played well in the four league games leading up to the match and we thought we could go out against Arsenal and do the same.

"But against the teams at the higher end of the league you really have to be focused and perhaps we weren't as focused as we have been in years gone by.

"We improved our home form last season but if we're going to be champions we'll have to improve it again this season. It's certainly achievable and that's what we're all striving for because we don't want to be in the position when we're having to do the chasing again.

"Sunday's game is another one of those matches we're expected to win and we need to do that."

Meanwhile Van der Sar says:

"Reading was the kind of game we needed to win. It was matches like that which cost us last year. We believe we have matured, so the focus is now on Newcastle and ensuring the same thing does not happen again."