Sunderland defender Wes Brown feels that his side are becoming a very difficult team to beat in the Premier League.

The Black Cats have kept clean sheets in three out of their last four matches, including their games against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Brown believes that his side's solid play at the back can be a springboard for them to push up the table in the second half of the campaign.

He told the club's official website: "We're becoming a force to be reckoned with and proving to be a side that's difficult for sides to beat - that is a good thing but now we need to add goals to that.

"We seem to be just lacking that cutting edge because we're creating chances but just not putting them away, which would have made all the difference at Anfield.

"We know we're capable of getting in positions to create scoring opportunities, that's a bonus and it's then about getting the goals in."

Sunderland are 14th in the Premier League ahead of their match against West Ham United on Saturday.