At last, it’s Miller’s time
Yet, as Keane revealed after this bruising Tees-Wear derby, he won’t take any offence if the gesture is thrust his way in a figurative sense by one of his own players. The one in question here was Keane’s fellow Corkman Liam Miller, whose late equaliser was further evidence of Sunderland’s never-say-die spirit.
Miller’s career was going nowhere at Manchester United before Keane chose him as one of his early recruits to Wearside in August last year. The 26-year-old Ireland midfielder proved a valuable member of the squad that won the Coca-Cola Championship, but he has spent much of this season on the bench.
Now, however, with Dickson Etuhu picking up his fifth booking, Miller’s chance is likely to come when Blackburn visit the Stadium of Light this weekend. Keane said: “With Dickson’s situation with his bookings and Liam coming on, I like players to do it that way rather than Liam saying to me, ‘You can’t leave me out.’ I want the players to pick the team and you do that by performing.
“With Liam, I like my players doing that to me: it’s like they’re sticking their fingers up to me and saying, ‘I should be in the team.’ I love to see that. He hasn’t been to see me — no-one comes to see me — but I’m always giving players chances and Liam took his here.”
They may share the same roots, but Miller literally laughs off the idea that he is hewn from the same rock as Keane. He said: “Early in my career people compared us, basically because we’re both from Cork and played for Man United.
“Obviously, he was a world-class player with bundles of experience, but as for similarities, ha! There aren’t too many, we’re totally different types of players.”
It was Grant Leadbitter, a player Keane has compared to Paul Scholes, who gave the Black Cats a dream start with a goal after a little over a minute, and so began a bizarre sequence of events for ex-Sunderland midfielder, Julio Arca.
The Argentinian was dispossessed by Leadbitter in the build-up to the goal and then, on the quarter-hour, atoned with an equaliser. But by the 27th minute he was stretchered off with suspected medial knee ligament damage.
Stewart Downing’s swerving effort after 67 minutes seemed to have set up victory for Boro until Miller produced an equally eye-catching strike, controlling the ball on his chest to crack a dipping shot just inside the post.
Keane has overseen more than a few late shows in his time as Sunderland manager, and this was his side’s third crucial goal in the last two minutes of a match this term.
But he refuses to take any credit, saying: “Over the last year or so we’ve scored lots of late goals, but that’s nothing to do with me. That’s to do with a player’s own desire.”
Miller added: “I’ve caught a few sweet ones in my time, but that was probably up there with the best of them. I never scored a Premier League goal for Man United, so this is my first. It’s been a long wait. Once again we’ve scored a late goal and it shows the character in the team. This bunch of lads always play for 90 minutes.”
In his day, Keane might have relished the touchline free-for-all that ensued when Leadbitter clashed with Lee Cattermole, but, borrowing Arsene Wenger’s well-worn line, he quipped: “I didn’t quite see it from where I was sitting. I think the two players probably deserved a booking. I had no interest. I think when managers and staff get involved it makes it look a hell of a lot worse.”
Boro manager Gareth Southgate, who as well as losing Arca also saw Tuncay suffer a suspected broken fibula and strike partner Mido a hamstring injury, was asked if Sunderland have enough to stay up and exclaimed: “Well, they’re level on points with us, so I hope so.”
Schwarzer 6; Young 6, Woodgate 6, Wheater 6, Taylor 6; O’Neil 8, Rochemback 6, Arca 6 (Boateng 27, 6), Downing 7; Tuncay 5 (Lee 13, 6), Mido 6 (Cattermole 58, 6).
Gordon 6; Halford 5, McShane 6, Higginbotham 6, Collins 6; Leadbitter 7, Yorke 6 (Stokes 68, 5), Etuhu 5 (Miller 52, 7), Wallace 6 (O’Donovan 76, 5); Chopra 5, Jones 5.
Howard Webb 6.
Match rating: ***
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