Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Keane demands Cats focus

10 Feb 2008 - 10:38:29

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Sunderland boss Roy Keane has urged his players to remain focused, despite easing their relegation fears with a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic.

The Black Cats boosted their survival hopes with a hard-fought victory over another side languishing towards the foot of the table.

Goals from Dickson Etuhu and Daryl Murphy lifted Sunderland up to 14th place in the Premier League table, but Keane has warned his players that their top-flight survival is still far from guaranteed.

He said: "We have just got to try to keep getting positive results and the table will take care of itself.

"There is no point looking at the table and losing football matches. We have got to put on positive performances.

"As you would expect, it was very hard for us. We rode our luck a little bit, but we maybe earned that little bit of luck.

"Two good goals, a clean sheet - we are fairly happy. Sometimes, you have got to make your own luck.

"Yes, we have had setbacks, but that's part of life, that's part of football in particular.

"We have been tested, particularly with injuries in vital areas, but the players showed good character today.

"If you want to play for this football club, character is most certainly at the top of my list."