Keane ‘shields’ stars from relegation battle pressure

ROY KEANE is happy to take the pressure of Sunderland’s Barclays Premier League struggle squarely on his shoulders.

The 36-year-old saw his side slip back into the bottom three with their 1-0 defeat at Blackburn on January 2, and the mood on Wearside was not improved by Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup home defeat to Wigan.

Keane’s men head into Sunday’s clash with away-day specialists Portsmouth desperately needing a win.