Slump in form worries Keane

Nov 13 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ROY Keane last night admitted Sunderland’s recent form is worrying him – but not his side’s performances. And, despite seeing his players booed off for the second game running, the Irishman has no concerns for his own future.

The Black Cats suffered their fourth consecutive loss – equalling the worst run of his tenure – when they bowed out of the Carling Cup at home to Blackburn Rovers.

“I suppose I am worried and disappointed because the players deserve a bit better,” said Keane. “I’m not worried about me, but about losing football matches. I’m not too downhearted about the players’ efforts or anything like that, just that we lost.

“The fans will do that (boo) when you’ve lost a game. That’s part of the deal. When you’re winning everyone loves you and you can’t do anything wrong.”

Rovers led through second-half goals from Roque Santa Cruz – two minutes after coming off the bench – and a Phil Bardsley own goal. A minute after Blackburn’s second, a snap-shot brought Kenwyne Jones’ first goal of the season, having been denied it by the crossbar in the first half. But, despite Sunderland pushing for an equaliser, Blackburn’s Paul Robinson was not overly troubled. The failure to turn possession into chances is becoming a frustratingly frequent feature of the Wearsiders’ play.

“It was Groundhog Day,” Keane concluded. “ There was not much between the two teams. There’s not been much in the games of late.

“We certainly don’t score enough goals. Even with all our good play we’re always putting ourselves under pressure. Against Premiership opposition you know there’s a good chance you’ll be punished. The only time my keeper seems to be working is when he’s getting the ball out of the net and that’s not a criticism of him. So many little things at the moment are going against us. I really can’t fault my players. They’ve been giving their best but it’s the little details we’re letting ourselves down with. We have to keep persevering and trying to do the right things.

“We will turn the corner. We’ll probably end up turning the corner with one of our worst performances.”

Sunderland were almost at full strength, with the introduction of 18-year-old Jordan Henderson and the fit-again Jones the only changes from the side beaten by Portsmouth.

Blackburn’s team-sheet suggested an ambivalence to the competition matched by the supporters of both clubs, with five first-team regulars on the bench.

Rovers boss Paul Ince admitted he had not expected such strong opposition. “I was pleased considering we put a team out that probably wasn’t as strong as Sunderland’s,” he said.

“I thought Keaney was going to put out a few kids and when his team came out it scared the life out of me, to be honest. I heard

Kenwyne Jones was having a scan and I thought he wasn’t going to play.”

Keane (pictured right) explained Jones was selected because of his performance in training that morning.

“The surgeon was quite happy there were no issues with the knee,” the manager said. “He looked lively in training in the morning. He wanted to get back in the team and it was a good opportunity.”

Of Henderson’s first start after making his debut as a substitute in the 5-0 Premier League defeat at Chelsea, Keane said: “I thought he gave quite a mature performance and kept it simple. Personality-wise he wants to be a footballer, he loves he game. He’s a nice kid with energy and innocence. He’ll be on the bus to Blackburn on Saturday.

“I didn’t put him in for a PR stunt. He’s a good one for the future.”

THE Old Firm have avoided each other in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-finals. Holders Rangers were yesterday drawn against Falkirk and Celtic will play Dundee United, last season’s runners-up. It means Celtic and Rangers are on course for their first meeting in the final since 2003, when the blue half of Glasgow triumphed 2-1. There could also be a repeat of last season’s final, which Rangers won on penalties after Kris Boyd twice equalised against United in a 2-2 draw. United last won the tournament in 1981 when they beat city rivals Dundee to retain the silverware.

Falkirk are in their second semi-final in three years. The draw was made without a glitch at the Scottish Parliament despite a massive blunder at the same venue last year, when presiding officer Alex Fergusson matched the balls with the wrong clubs. It only emerged in the early evening that there had been a mistake. Fergusson, who again drew the balls out with Alex Salmond, joked he was grateful for “having the chance to redeem himself“.