GORDON STRACHAN goes head-to-head with his managerial mentor at St Mary's this afternoon.

The Saints boss played under the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Ron Atkinson in a glittering playing career, but admits Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson is the major influence on his own coaching career.

The duo combined to famously lift the Premiership trophy with Leeds in 1992 and have remained in regular contact since.

"I speak to Howard Wilkinson all the time and I can't hold him in any higher regard," said Strachan.

"If I have a football problem he is the first person I phone, so I can't really add to that."

Asked on Monday if he had needed to phone Wilkinson this season, Strachan replied: "Yes, plenty of times. I spoke to him this morning in fact."

The Saints manager has received numerous plaudits for getting the very best out of his players this season - something Wilkinson undoubtedly achieved with Strachan.

The Scot was 32 when he joined Second Division Leeds in 1989, but he was clearly inspired by his manager and became the catalyst for an Elland Road revolution that culminated in promotion and then championship glory.

Wilkinson finally left Leeds as manager in 1996, taking over as FA technical director in 1997 before replacing Peter Reid at Sunderland in October this year.

Despite the close friendship of the rival managers, Saints will be desperate to maintain this season's unbeaten home record.

Strachan added: "We are proud of our home record. Eventually it will go and we will be disappointed.

"What we are most proud of is the way we have won games here.

"It is not about statistics it is about the players.

"The better the players on the pitch are, the more lucky we will be.

"We have got to keep an eye on Kevin Phillips and anyone else. Our job is to make sure he doesn't get any chances."