Sat 29th Nov - Stadium of Light
Last updated: 6th October 2008
Keane: Sunderland admission
Roy Keane has admitted his Sunderland side lack the strength to out-muscle their Premier League rivals.
The Black Cats were on the brink of a famous victory over Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday thanks to Grant Leadbitter's late goal, only for Cesc Fabregas to nod home an injury-time leveller.
Arsene Wenger was less than impressed by the home side's defensive approach, but Keane felt he had no option, especially as his side could not use the physical approach many teams adopt against the Gunners.
Saturday's draw was the first point Sunderland have taken from any of the so-called big four - Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool - since their return to the Premier League.
Keane said: "We are not really a physical team - you saw that at the end.
"We were defending a corner and we had Steed Malbranque, we had Grant Leadbitter and Michael Chopra.
"They were bringing on the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, who is six foot two, six three, so it was always going to be difficult.
"We had to try to play football. We can't physically dominate any team in the Premier League. That's something we are constantly looking at."
Fabregas' late equaliser came from an Arsenal corner and, having seen his side concede from set-pieces in the defeat by Aston Villa, Keane is keen to address the issue.
But the former Republic of Ireland international admits there is only so much that can be done on the training ground.
Keane said: "Set-pieces in the Premier League, both defending and attacking, are massive.
"But just because you work on them in the week, it doesn't mean to say you are not going to concede because a good ball into your area is sometimes very hard to defend."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs West Brom |
| Saturday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Sunderland |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Blackburn |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 14:00 | Everton vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Fulham |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Stoke |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Tottenham |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Sunderland |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 4 Bolton | |
| Sunday 23rd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 West Ham | |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 12th November | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 5 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 29th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Tuesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 Northampton | |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 31st August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 3 Man City | |
| Wednesday 27th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Nottm Forest 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Thursday 7th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Athlone Town 0 - 6 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 30th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Nottm Forest 0 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 15 | 15 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 15 | 15 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 15 | 15 |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 | 13 |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 15 | 11 |
Andy Gray says there's no way you could describe Roy Keane's Sunderland reign as a failure.
Jason McAteer told Sky Sports News Roy Keane's volatile temperament made his exit inevitable.
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn believes accepting Roy Keane's resignation was 'the best thing to do' for the club.
Phil Brown insists his focus is on the next two years at Hull City after he was linked with Sunderland.
Andy Gray says there's no way you could describe Roy Keane's Sunderland reign as a failure.
Jason McAteer told Sky Sports News Roy Keane's volatile temperament made his exit inevitable.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce admits he is shocked that Roy Keane has opted to quit Sunderland.