Call to sign off in style

May 5 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

DEAN Whitehead has urged Sunderland’s shell-shocked players to end the season on a high note against Arsenal next weekend following their meek surrender to Bolton.

With Keane’s stinging criticism still ringing in their ears, a number of the squad face an uncertain future at the Stadium of Light and Whitehead admitted they had let themselves down at the weekend following the 3-2, Premier League safety-clinching win over Midddlesbrough.

He said: “It was definitely a comedown after last week. It was a massive disappointment. We didn’t perform and we didn’t stay in the game when we should have seen the first half out.

“We didn’t give ourselves a chance from the start, and conceding a goal just before half-time seemed to knock the stuffing out of us even more.

“Our passing wasn’t good enough and we made too many mistakes. That can happen sometimes, but we have to make sure we bounce back from it.”

Bouncing back, however, is considerably easier said than done with Arsenal the final visitors of the season to the Stadium of Light. Arsene Wenger’s side will also be keen to sign off in style.

Whitehead said: “It’s good we have one more home game to play and we can still try to sign off on a positive note. There’s a chance for us to put things right and we know we have to put on a good performance against Arsenal.

“We have to make sure we go into the summer on a positive note. We know it’ll be a difficult game – Arsenal will probably have the ball for long spells, but at least the mood will be a lot different.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones following his impressive first season in the Premier League. Keane, though, will reject all bids for the Trinidad and Tobago international – a £6m signing from Southampton.