Quinn thinks of Bobby after derby humiliation

SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn resorted to the wisdom of Bobby Robson as he sought solace in the wake of last week’s 5-1 Tyne-Wear derby defeat.

On the day he was unveiled as the a patron of the Bobby Robson Foundation, Quinn admitted that the former Newcastle boss was still a source of huge comfort to him.

“In adversity, Bobby would probably be the right man to have at your side because he would have told you how to bounce back, and if it came from him, you would take it in.

“Without even having talked to him, he was inspirational, and it definitely helped me move another step away from last Sunday’s result.”

Quinn added: “Last Saturday evening, I was giddy going to sleep hoping we would maybe go fifth in the Premier League. We would have bragging rights locally and it would be a good measure of how far the club has come.

“But we stand up together at this club and always will. We have lost two games in the league this year against clubs that were promoted, but we have also played seven or eight of the top 10 sides from last year so far and they haven’t beaten us - we have a lot to be grateful for.

“Of course, all that is forgotten about when a result happens like the one that did last Sunday. The important thing for me – and I feel Sir Bobby would say this as well – is that we put it in a box very quickly, label it as a one-off and get ourselves back on track.

“For me, that means moving back up the Premier League with a good run of form, though I would be lying if I said we are not chalking the days off until the return fixture on January 16.”

Quinn joins Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson and former Ipswich and England captain Mick Mills as a patron of Robson’s cancer charity, which has raised around €3m to date.