Roy’s hotel curfew working wonders

ROY KEANE has taken a leaf out of Alex Ferguson’s book by checking his Sunderland players into a hotel hideaway on the eve of every home game.

Keane became a convert to such preparation in his days as Ferguson’s captain at Manchester United, and the pre-match curfew seems to be working for Sunderland, who moved into a Championship play-off spot for the first time this season with Saturday’s 4-0 rout of Southend.

Keane said: “Being in a hotel guarantees the lads eat well, they have a good night’s sleep and there’s no interference. We did it at United.

“You don’t know what’s happening the night before a game, whether people have family round at home. If you’re married there can be arguments, the kids can be up all night, and I don’t like the players getting involved in that.

“If they’re in the hotel at seven o’clock on a Friday night, we know what rooms they’re in and what they are up to. It’s a more professional approach.”

Black Cats winger Carlos Edwards said: “If you don’t respect what the manager is doing, then you won’t be at Sunderland. That’s a fact. I prefer to stay at home the night before a game, but the main objective is that no-one is late. When we move, we move as a team.”

He added that “it’s about professionalism and being together.”

Sunderland are fifth and only four points behind second-placed Birmingham, who they visit tomorrow night.

And Edwards says Keane is targeting the top two.

“The manager is not looking at next year — he wants to be promoted this season. He doesn’t accept we are playing for sixth place.”

David Connolly and Tobias Hysen gave Sunderland a lead that Stern John doubled with his first goals for the club.