Keane - Sloppy play cost us

Black Cats' boss rues lack of chances in final third

By Hayley Paterson   Last updated: 27th September 2008

Roy Keane Sunderland manager

Keane: Costly mistakes

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Sunderland boss Roy Keane was disappointed with the nature in which his side gave away two set-pieces leading to Aston Villa's two goals.

The Black Cats started positively and with their first real clear-cut chance, Steed Malbranque released Djibril Cisse with a perfectly weighted throughball. The Frenchman coolly slotted home in the 10th minute.

But then Liam Miller gave away a silly free-kick on the edge of the box and Ashley Young made no mistake with a fine finish for the equaliser.

Then moments later Sunderland were on the back foot again when they failed to clear a free-kick in a similar position and John Carew fired home with a neat back heel for 2-1.

Good possession

"You've got to put the ball in the back of the net and, for all our decent play and good possession, particularly in the second half, we didn't test the 'keeper enough," Keane said.

"We felt there was definitely something there for the taking today so we are disappointed with that side of things.

"But we know Villa are going to be pretty decent at set-pieces. Their record would suggest that, the number of goals they have scored over the last couple of years.

Sloppy

"The first goal was very sloppy, a needless tackle, and the wall could have done better. For the second one we were in decent possession and gave it away.

"If they had opened us up and scored some goals against us, then you hold your hand up, but we invited the trouble on and they took full advantage so credit to Villa for that.

"We felt we did enough to get a result but in the final third did not produce that bit of quality that you need to get something in a Premier League game."