Whitehead - Forget derby loss

Skipper calls for focus following Magpies defeat

Last updated: 21st April 2008

Dean Whitehead Sunderland midfield

Whitehead: Gutted

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Dean Whitehead has urged his Sunderland team-mates to quickly move on from their derby defeat to rivals Newcastle United.

Sunday's 2-0 loss to The Magpies at St James' Park has left The Black Cats five points above 18th-placed Birmingham.

And with three games of the season remaining, Whitehead is aware that Sunderland must refocus ahead of their three remaining Premier League fixtures.

Gutted

"It was a disappointing day all round. It's difficult to take a defeat against Newcastle," he said.

"Everyone is gutted, but we just have to forget about this now, pick ourselves up and go again next week.

"We have got another big game on Saturday against Middlesbrough and we are on our home patch, so we have got to make that count."