Sbragia happy to put the fun back into Sunderland

GIVEN that Roy Keane’s resignation from Sunderland was apparently provoked by the notion of encouraging his players to smile during training, perhaps it was for the best the Cork man did not bear witness to their post-match ritual on Saturday.

The visitors’ team bus was just pulling away from Emirates stadium when it stopped abruptly outside a shabby-looking mini-mart just off the Holloway Road. The side door opened and a tracksuited member of staff bounded into the shop, returning moments later to distribute a mountain of snacks to the players, while giggling teenagers captured the moment on their mobile phones.

Keane would probably have made his former charges walk back to the north-east had they attempted such behaviour on his watch, but the Wearsiders are thriving under Ricky Sbragia’s more relaxed approach.