Keane: One of the worst nights of my career
Roy Keane slammed his Sunderland players' performance against Northampton
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Wednesday, 24, Sep 2008 02:52
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has blasted the club's players and supporters despite the Black Cats earning a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
The Wearsiders had to rely on a get-out-of-jail-free card, via a late brace of goals from substitute Anthony Stokes and then a penalty shootout, at the Stadium of Light against League One Northampton Town.
And despite seeing his side recover in dramatic style against the Cobblers, who had been the better team for most of the game, Keane said the evening ranked among the worst of his career.
"I have had some bad nights and some bad days - doing my cruciate, sendings off, losing titles, losing cup games," the Irishman explained.
"But that was certainly up there with them. I couldn't wait to see the back of it - it was a bad night.
"Nobody should celebrate, even at the end of the penalty shootout. We should be praising Northampton, not Sunderland."
Keane claimed he could sense a relaxed attitude among his players, which was reflected in the stands.
And he said he would not accept such an approach in the future.
"I think everyone, players and supporters, just thought we were going to win the game without trying," Keane went on.
"It's not like we are like Real Madrid where we can produce one bit of magic.
"The big plus for me since I have been here is our team works its socks off, but we started the game like it was going to be a walk in the park.
"It backfired, and it should have backfired a bit more. How we are in the next round, I will never know."