Keane points to fatigue

Black Cats boss says tired legs to blame for defeat

Last updated: 16th August 2008

Roy Keane July 23

Keane: Points to fatigue

Related links

Teams

Also see

Roy Keane believes fatigue played its part as Sunderland slipped to a late 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool.

Neither side were at their free-flowing best and it looked like the points would be shared at the Stadium of Light with the game scoreless with just 10 minutes left to play.

However, in the blink of the eye the points were The Reds when Fernando Torres picked up Xabi Alonso's neat though-ball before lashing home past Craig Gordon.

Keane believes his side tired in the closing stages of the game and accepts that maybe the quality of the opposition in pre-season may have impacted their fitness levels.

Responsibility

"We tired in the last 15 to 20 minutes - which is something I should take responsibility for. We should have had some tougher games in pre-season," he believes.

"I know Liverpool have only had one game in Europe, but it was a tough game. We tired, and I think that probably affected our decision-making.

"For all the hard work, the number of goals scored in the last 15 minutes is huge - and the other 75 minutes goes out of the window.

"It was just one moment - that's all we're talking about - but that's the beauty of the Premier League. I can't complain, because I've been on the other side of it."