Keane returns to past with future in mind

Jul 31 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

ROY Keane last night completed the second part of his two-date homecoming tour with eyes firmly trained on the future.

For the second time in three days Keane returned to a venue that played a pivotal part in his football education and, while there was the merest concession to sentimentality from the Sunderland manager, it is the emergence of a new Black Cats side that will have pleased him as much as the generous reception of the Forest fans.

While Steed Malbranque posed for photos to announce his imminent arrival at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland were able to hand debuts to Pascal Chimbonda and El-Hadji Diouf on a sultry night at the City Ground that marked another positive step forward for Keane’s Black Cats’ vision.

Much more was asked of his side at the City Ground than had been at Turner’s Cross on Monday, and by virtue of that fact it must represent a worthwhile exercise for Keane and his emerging side. It offered a few intriguing hints for Black Cats watchers, not least Danny Collins’ continued presence at centre-back rather than left-back.

Another was provided by Keane’s preference for a 4-5-1 formation that will incorporate new signings El-Hadji Diouf and Steed Malbranque, or the leaner and more focused Kieran Richardson that has emerged during the pre-season campaign.

Certainly there was some evidence of its merits against Forest, with Diouf supplying an enterprising turn that grew in authority as the winger grew more familiar alongside his new team-mates. The Senegalese has that happy knack of creating space for himself by virtue of his lightning-quick feet, and it nearly bought him a debut goal when he forced a smart save from Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith after a curling second-half effort.

But while that system gives Sunderland a threat from the flanks it also places a sizeable burden on the man chosen to lead the line.

It would be asking a lot of Daryl Murphy to shoulder that burden next season, and while the Irish striker has toiled with a degree of success in Sunderland’s pre-season campaign he will be nervously awaiting Keane’s next move in the market.

Although he made his physical presence felt during a hard-working first half Murphy was rarely presented with a clear sight of goal and there remain doubts over his suitability in the lone striker role.

Michael Chopra replaced the luckless Murphy on 58 minutes but the early portents weren’t particularly encouraging for him either.

Fellow substitute Anthony Stokes teed him up with an incisive pass but Chopra stumbled as he prepared to convert.

Elsewhere there were further encouraging signs from Teemu Tainio, again tidy and efficient as he patrolled midfield to good effect, and goalscorer Richardson, who looks in mint condition thanks to an extensive summer fitness programme.

But during an evenly-matched first half Forest provided enough attacking intent to rock Sunderland’s unsure back four, where Chimbonda is still finding his feet.

Sunderland’s best first-half chance fell to Danny Higginbotham, who headed over an Andy Reid cross, while Forest striker Rob Earnshaw was wasteful on the couple of occasions he breached Sunderland’s defences.

If the game had enough competitive zeal to resemble an encounter a mid-season league game, a raft of Black Cats changes just before the hour reminded fans that, for all the blood and thunder invoked by a lively crowd, this was still no more than one of those pre-season sharpening exercises.

Still, with such a large squad there was plenty for the six substitutes to prove and it was one of their number, Stokes, who teed up the winner with an intelligent run and pass that set up Richardson’s rifled right-footed shot on 71 minutes. Keane sprung another surprise in the final five minutes of the game, making his team play with 10 men by bringing off Higginbotham with no substitute summoned.

Presumably an attempt to force them to practice playing in the event of a sending off, while also boosting his side’s fitness at a vital stage of pre-season, it provided a bizarre denouement to an otherwise profitable evening.