Sbragia also batted away accusations from Keane that Sunderland had gone back on their desire to instill a winning mentality at the club.

The justification for that comment was chairman Niall Quinn telling him that players should come to training with ‘smiles on their faces’.

Sbragia is certainly more popular with the players and more easy-going than Keane was, but he says that is not an indication that the club has lost its edge. “I don’t have a problem with the squad’s winning mentality. The majority of them he brought in anyway so he would know more about that,” he said.

Keane’s comments are a continuing distraction from Sunderland’s relegation fight – although a diversion might be welcome given the horrific performance at West Brom.

Sbragia insists that the players have ‘moved on’, although he feels they owe the fans after that disappointment.

He will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes against Everton tomorrow at the Stadium of Light although David Healy’s claims for a starting place are being studied carefully.

Steed Malbranque may also return at the expense of Carlos Edwards.

Sbragia says there is no doubt in his mind that the players will deliver a much-improved display.

“The players owe a performance to themselves. And the fans,” he said.