Keane praises warriors in drop fight

Mar 24 2008 by The Journal

ROY Keane hailed the warrior spirit of his players as Sunderland banished their away-day jinx in a crucial win at Villa Park.
 
Michael Chopra’s late strike handed Sunderland three points in their bid to preserve their Premiership status – ending their season-long wait for an away win and giving Keane’s men breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

Keane insisted afterwards their efforts at Villa Park showed the kind of fight that will keep the Black Cats in the top flight.

“There were ice packs on plenty of my players’ legs after the game but I get worried when I don’t see ice on their legs. They should be getting knocks,” he said. “Nyron (Nosworthy) ended the game with a few knocks but that is good. If you get through a Premiership game without a knock then there is something wrong with you. You’re a centre-half, it should be happening. I thought he was outstanding – he was a warrior. He got turned once or twice which was perhaps inexperience coming through but they (the defence) got away with it.”

Chopra’s late goal ended the wait for a win on their travels – banishing the frustration of seven months of away-day misery. But Keane is adamant there was never any panic about their away form.

“We’ve got a decent group and it was far from doom and gloom,” he said. “It wasn’t as if the away win hadn’t looked like coming. I can think of seven or eight games where we’ve done enough to win, but one mistake has cost us. It hasn’t been like we’ve been battered so we were always confident it would come. I never go into a game fearful of what might be because I have great faith in the players.

“Even at training on Friday I looked at them and thought, ‘They’re a good strong unit’. There is no problem with any of the players. I left three players out last week but they’ve all come back in and contributed.”

Keane benefited from a return for wide-men Carlos Edwards and Kieran Richardson, who caused problems for Villa throughout with their pace and trickery.

And he feels the return to fitness of some of his long-term injured players is helping the survival fight. “I am fortunate in that they’re all getting fit at the right time. I had to leave one or two behind but for next Saturday I’ve got a tough, tough selection problem. But it’s nice because I haven’t had that problem since I’ve become manager, and certainly not since we got into the Premiership.

“Maybe that’s why we’ve seen a sharper performance from one or two players because they’re fighting for their places now. You can’t beat that at a football club.”

Sunderland have seven games to complete the task of staying in the top flight – and Keane is sure there will be no complacency after Saturday.

“It will be very easy to keep the players’ feet on the ground. We’ve won one away from home. If that is something to get carried away with then we’re all in trouble."