Players must be cool Cats, says Reid

SUNDERLAND midfielder Andy Reid insists there is no need for panic as he and his team-mates attempt to dig themselves out of a hole.

Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat by Bolton plunged the Black Cats back into the Premier League relegation zone and sparked an ongoing debate over the future of manager Roy Keane.

The Corkman’s frank assessment of his own role in a run which has seen his side lose six of its last seven games, coupled with his failure to sign a new contract, has set alarm bells ringing in some quarters.

However, out-of-favour Irish international Reid believes the players have to take responsibility for addressing the club’s current malaise.

He said: “Everybody needs to stick together. The manager said that after Saturday’s game and all the players have been saying it as well.

“We are the only ones who can pick up the results we need. Other people can say whatever they want but as players we all know it’s up to us to turn things around.

“We will only do that if we stick together and believe in our ability.

“Everybody needs to stay nice and calm. There’s no need to panic.

“It’s about keeping your head and carrying on believing in the things that got you to where you are in the first place.

“We know we have the ability in the squad. But if we don’t pull together, none of that will matter.

“Now it’s just a case of getting back on the pitch and performing.”

Keane’s own future has been a topic of discussion for several weeks.

He and chairman Niall Quinn poured scorn on rumours that he had walked out on the club last month, but his remarks since have been ambiguous, to say the least.

With inopportune timing, Keane will take his side to former club Manchester United on Saturday evening, looking to end an horrendous run of results.

Reid said: “It’s going to be a difficult game, but there’s no point going into the game thinking you are already beaten. That’s stupid.

“We are going there looking to get a result.”

Despite a calamitous collapse against Bolton, things might have been different if, with the Wearsiders trailing 2-1, referee Chris Foy had not harshly ruled out a Djibril Cisse strike for a foul by Kenwyne Jones.

But Reid told the Sunderland Echo: “There’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves and saying referees are missing things, because that’s the same for all clubs. Referees only make decisions based on what they see.

“There’s not going to be any panic from within the camp.

“The league is a lot tighter this year, so if we put two or three wins together we will be right up there.

“We are playing some decent stuff and, but for the break of the ball or an odd mistake, we could have six or seven points more.”