McCarthy battles on as Keegan linked with Sunderland

Sunderland 1 Fulham 2

McCarthy is under heavy pressure with yesterday’s 2-1 defeat by Fulham casting Sunderland 10 points adrift at the foot of the Premiership.

Reports over the weekend claimed Keegan had been asked to take over at the Stadium of Light, but McCarthy, who will not need reminding that defeat at Fulham accounted for his predecessor Howard Wilkinson in March 2003, insists it is business at usual.

“I shouldn’t be surprised by the report because we’re bottom of the league. I can’t do anything about it, I’ve just got to get on with the job,” he said.

“I’ll keep coming to work. The performances are okay but the results are not coming. I’m not aware of anything that’s going on and until that changes you’ll see me on the sidelines urging the players on.”

Sunderland made a blistering start at Craven Cottage with Liam Lawrence capitalising on a defensive error from Zat Knight to fire home with a stunning volley in the seventh minute.

But Fulham hit back either side of the break through Collins John with the second coming after Sunderland defender Stephen Caldwell had been shown a straight red card for his tackle on Heidar Helguson.

Malbranque limped off with a dead leg in the 78th minute, a challenge from Tommy Miller doing the damage, but as Coleman had used all of his substitutes Fulham were also down to 10 men.

“We didn’t deserve to be beaten,” said McCarthy. “We were by far the better team in the first half and that’s not looking at it with rose-coloured spectacles,” said McCarthy.

“We didn’t defend particularly well for their goals. The sending-off was unfortunate. I’ve seen it three times and I thought Stephen tried to get out of his way.

“We should have had something from the game. The difference was they took their opportunities.”

Lawrence took his goal beautifully, firing home with a left-foot volley, and McCarthy said: “It was a fabulous strike.

“Liam has been one of the stars of the show for the last three or four games and that was another good performance.”

Fulham boss Chris Coleman admitted it was not a vintage display from his side and felt spirit alone had secured their sixth Premiership win.

“We didn’t play well but showed great character and courage to get the goals. It didn’t matter how we did it today, we just had to get three points,” he said.

“Sunderland scoring early made everyone nervous but we came back.”

Fulham have been crippled by injuries and there was no let-up yesterday with Liam Rosenior and Steed Malbranque, making his first appearances since early December, both limping off.

Coleman admitted the plan of playing Papa Bouba Diop, struggling with an ankle problem, backfired. The Senegal midfielder was replaced by Helguson in the 40th minute.

“I gambled with Bouba and didn’t know whether Sylvain Legwinski would finish. Bouba wasn’t himself and I didn’t want to do any long-term damage,” he said.

“I was told Heidar wouldn’t be fit but he was okay for the bench and in the end we needed him on the pitch. Alain Goma became ill last night and Carlos Bocanegra wasn’t fit.”

FULHAM: Warner, Leacock, Pearce, Knight, Rosenior (Niclas Jensen 75), Boa Morte, Diop (Helguson 40), Legwinski, Radzinski, McBride, John (Malbranque 69).

SUNDERLAND: Davis, Hoyte (Murphy 64), Breen, Caldwell, Arca, Lawrence, Whitehead, Collins, Le Tallec (Nosworthy 64), Stead (Gray 65), Miller.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).