‘Beating United a priority’

Nov 10 2007 by Paul Gilder, The Journal

THE significance of the region’s biggest football fixture is not lost on Roy Keane after Sunderland’s manager admitted beating Newcastle was an objective identified on his first morning in the job.

“It was made clear to me the moment I arrived at the club,” said the Black Cats boss, whose side will host Sam Allardyce’s in the Wear-Tyne derby this lunchtime. “People articulate it in different ways. Sometimes you’re told, ‘You just have to beat them’ or ‘Make sure you beat that lot’. Other times it’s more aggressive than that. And that’s just from the directors!”

Sunderland’s 138th competitive match against the Magpies will be

Keane’s first but an Irishman experienced in battling for local bragging rights understands this is a game in which much more than three points will be at stake.

Having played in countless Manchester derbies and tasted two Old Firm fixtures, the 36-year-old knows that defeat against bitter rivals would prove intolerable for supporters whose side haven’t beaten Newcastle on home soil since 1980. That is a record he is determined to address as he strives to steer the Cats to their first win against their neighbours in seven years.

“This is like the game between Manchester United and Liverpool,” said Keane, a manager who, unlike Ruud Gullit – the much-maligned former Newcastle boss – believes the distance between the two cities adds an edge to a great sporting occasion. “The people in the cities don’t like each other, and this game is a chance for all that to come out. This is the time rivalries can be shown and I think it adds to it that the clubs are from different cities. Forget about the football, just being from Sunderland and Newcastle makes the people rivals. You would have to be from another planet to not appreciate what this means. No one needs to be reminded or to have it pointed out to them.

“I understand it – I always have done. When you understand football and when you speak to people in the game, it’s obvious what this is all about. I’ve known people from Newcastle and Sunderland for a long time and this is a game I’ve heard about a lot. Whether it’s (Manchester) United and City, Celtic and Rangers, Arsenal and Tottenham or Liverpool and Everton, rivalries are important in football and this match is up there with them all. I’m aware it means a great deal to the supporters and I’ve got no doubt this means just as much to them (as the game’s greatest derbies do to the fans involved). People reminded me about it on the first morning I arrived here. Just look at the all hype there has been this week – unless you lock yourself in your house, it’s impossible to avoid it.”

It is not just Sunderland’s fans who have underlined the derby’s significance to Keane in recent days. The Black Cats boss was at St James’s Park seven days ago and, although Newcastle’s 4-1 defeat against Portsmouth ensured he had the last laugh, he didn’t receive the warmest welcome.

“The Newcastle supporters reminded me what it means to them last week,” said a diplomatic manager with a smile. “What did they say to me? ‘Nice to meet you’, ‘We’re looking forward to the game’ – just things like that. I’m looking forward to it, too.”

Keane has warned his players to keep their emotions in check this afternoon – “Past experiences suggest I’m not good at drawing the line,” he admitted last night – and insisted that, in such a frenetic fixture, heads are as important as hearts.

“I want the players to be raring to go, but I don’t want people to go overboard,” he added. “We’ll have pride and passion but you’ve got to use your heads. I need leaders and warriors. I need people who can handle tackles, but I also need people who can handle the ball. I was always desperate to win. People have been urging me to do just that since I arrived. I’m up for the challenge. Bring it on.”