McCarthy concentrating on relegation fight

Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat by Fulham may have heaped further pressure on Mick McCarthy but the under-fire Black Cats boss insists it is business as usual.

Kevin Keegan has been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light, with one report stating the former England coach had declined an offer to replace McCarthy.

“I shouldn’t be surprised by the speculation because we’re bottom of the league. I can’t do anything about it, I’ve just got to get on with the job,” said McCarthy

“I’ll keep coming to work. The performances are okay but the results are not coming. I’m not aware of anything that’s going on and until that changes you’ll see me on the sidelines urging the players on.”

A win at Craven Cottage would have provided McCarthy with some breathing space and a positive result seemed possible when Liam Lawrence gave them a seventh-minute lead.

The 24-year-old, Sunderland’s most dangerous player, smashed home a magnificent left-foot volley after an attempted clearance by Zat Knight had fallen kindly into his path.

But Fulham pegged them back three minutes before the interval when Collins John sneaked in and prodded home Brian McBride’s flick-on header.

Chances fell at both ends but it was John who decided the outcome, nodding in a Heidar Helguson cross to snatch victory for Fulham and leave Sunderland 10 points adrift at the foot of the Barclays Premiership.

It was not pretty but the result was Fulham’s only win from their four-match festive schedule and boss Chris Coleman insisted the end justified the means.

“We didn’t play well but showed great character and courage to get the goals. It didn’t matter how we did it, we just had to get three points,” he said.

“Them scoring early made everyone nervous but we came back.”

Fulham have been crippled by injuries and there was no let-up against Sunderland with Liam Rosenior and Steed Malbranque, making his first appearance since early December, both limping off.

Senegal midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, also back after a one-month lay-off, was replaced by Helguson in the 40th minute to leave Coleman lamenting the club’s injury jinx.

“I gambled with Bouba and didn’t know whether Sylvain Legwinski would finish. Bouba wasn’t himself and I didn’t want to do any long-term damage,” he said.

“I was told Heidar wouldn’t be fit but he was okay for the bench and in the end we needed him on the pitch. Alain Goma became ill last night and Carlos Bocanegra wasn’t fit.”