MARTIN O’Neill was relaxed about the hostile reception his top transfer target received from the Sunderland fans last night, but he was more perturbed by his side’s lack of cutting edge.

The most notable feature of Sunderland’s dreadful 0-0 draw with Swansea City was the hostile reception afforded Danny Graham who they hope to sign before tomorrow’s 11pm deadline.

Sunderland’s supporters left the Gateshead-born striker in no doubt that they do not want him. The boyhood Newcastle United fan – also interesting Norwich and Stoke – was loudly booed onto the field before being told by the Sunderland fans that he was “nothing but scum”. He made uncomplimentary comments about their Wearside neighbours in the past to a Newcastle fanzine.

“Our crowd probably consider him a Newcastle supporter but there is a statue to a Geordie outside the Stadium of Light that was well merited,” he said in reference to 1973 FA Cup-winning manager Bob Stokoe. O’Neill still hopes to land one, maybe two, strikers, but played his cards close to his chest.

“We have had some bids in quite some time ago for players,” he said. “It’s the other club’s prerogative to either accept the bid or not.”