Keane blasts Black Cats

Sunderland boss fumes at Cup showing

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 24th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Keane blasts Black Cats

Keane: Night to forget

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Roy Keane slammed his Sunderland side after complacency almost cost them their place in the Carling Cup.

The Black Cats put in an abject showing against League One Northampton at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, requiring penalties to book their place in round four.

The Premier League outfit had been 2-0 down heading into the final five minutes of normal time, only to be rescued by a dramatic late brace from substitute Anthony Stokes.

Sunderland's top flight pedigree ultimately shone through once the game went to spot-kicks, but Keane was left fuming at the manner of his side's performance.

Magic

"I think everyone, players and supporters, just thought tonight we were going to win the game without trying, without sprinting," said the Irishman.

"It's not like we are like Real Madrid where we can produce one bit of magic.

"The big plus for me since I have been here is our team works its socks off, but tonight, we started the game like it was going to be a walk in the park.

"It backfired, and it should have backfired a bit more. How we are in the next round, I will never, ever know."

Bad night

Asked where the night ranked in his career, Keane said: "It is probably one of the worst.

"I have had some bad nights, bad days - doing my cruciate, sendings off, losing titles, losing cup games.

"This is certainly up there with them. I couldn't wait to see the back of tonight. It was a bad, bad night.

"Nobody could celebrate, even at the end of the penalty shoot-out. We should be praising Northampton tonight, not Sunderland."

Commitment

Northampton had built a commanding lead thanks to strikes from Colin Larkin and Luke Guttridge, but Cobblers boss Stuart Gray was left to reflect on what might have been.

He said: "That's why they are Premier League players and internationals out there.

"But I am not taking anything away from the effort and the commitment the boys put in.

"I would imagine the Sunderland players are probably as fatigued and tired as we are because we had them chasing around."