Keane keeps wallet in pocket

ROY KEANE’S reputation rests on being notoriously hard to please, but the Sunderland manager appears to be mellowing in his old age.

The Cork man not only refrained from dispensing both barrels to referee Keith Shroud for a decision which cost his team a win here — the official disallowed a fine Kieran Richardson free-kick for an indiscretion — he also insisted his happiness with his current squad will negate the need to spend in the January transfer window.

“We’ve reached a stage now where nobody at the club is guaranteed a place week-in, week-out but I think the players deserve credit for what they’ve done considering the changes I’ve made,” Keane said.

“But that will certainly stop now. My spending is certainly over in terms of bringing in six or seven players every transfer window.

“I think we’ve got the nucleus of a decent team now and although some places in the starting line-up are still up for grabs we need to stabilise the club now and I’m happy to do that.”

Keane was not so content with failing to take two more points from southwest London.

Richardson — who had already forced Aaron Hughes to clear his clever lob off the line — stepped up and arrowed the ball past Cottagers keeper Mark Schwarzer into the top corner, only for Stroud to spot pushing by Sunderland’s Pascal Chimbonda in the Fulham wall and chalk it off.

It may be little consolation to Richardson but there is a chance an earlier free-kick he took — which hit the woodwork three times and still stayed out — may be considered as an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Four minutes before half time Richardson lofted the ball over Fulham’s defensive wall and saw it strike the inside of Schwarzer’s left-hand post, fly across goal to strike the inside of the other post and then bounced against the first upright yet again before the startled Australian finally grabbed the ball.

Keane, who could have £6 million (€7.7m) striker Kenwyne Jones and defender Nyron Nosworthy back from injuries for next weekend’s northeast derby against Newcastle, is aware that Sunderland are averaging only one goal a game this term and for Fulham it is even worse — just five in seven league outings.

Manager Roy Hodgson said: “Of course, we will be concerned about our position soon if it doesn’t improve but we are only seven games into the season out of 38.

“But I think a lot will change and I think that quality will count.”

Hammersmith and Fulham Police said “there were no incidents reported” despite officers escorting former Fulham chairman Jimmy Hill clear of spectators who verbally abused him during a half-time ceremony paying tribute to Johnny Haynes.

Hill, now 80, is still unpopular with some Sunderland fans who blame him for their relegation from the top-flight in 1975-76.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer 7, Pantsil 7, Hughes 6, Hangeland 6, Konchesky 6, Davies 6, Murphy 6, Bullard 7, Gera 5 (Dempsey 73, 5), Zamora 5, Johnson 6.

Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gray, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon 6, Chimbonda 6, Ferdinand 7, Collins 7, McCartney 6, Malbranque 6, Leadbitter 5 (Reid 62, 5), Whitehead 6, Richardson 7, Cisse 6 (Murphy 84, 5), Chopra 4 (Healy 69, 5).

Subs Not Used: Fulop, Bardsley, Tainio, Diouf.

REFEREE: Keith Stroud (Hampshire) 5: Harsh to disallow Richardson’s free-kick goal towards the end.

MATCH RATING: ** Two shot-shy sides produced the inevitable damp squib.