Black Cats give Keane a lift

Roy Keane was full of praise for his Coca-Cola Championship side Sunderland as they continued their promotion push with a 2-0 success at Plymouth.

An inspired substitution by Keane – introducing Republic of Ireland striker Anthony Stokes in the 66th minute – proved a masterstroke.

Stokes, a £2m (€3m) buy from Arsenal last month, scored with a brilliant angled drive on the run from 20 yards just three minutes after his introduction.

It was Stokes’ first goal for the Black Cats, who doubled their lead when fellow striker David Connolly made it 2-0 in the 71st minute, rounding home goalkeeper Luke McCormick before slotting home.

Keane explained: “The opening goal was always going to be very important and Stokes took it really well.

“We knew once we scored Plymouth would have to come at us and maybe leave gaps and with the quality we have got, especially going forward, we could cause them problems.

“It’s been a hectic month for Anthony, what with winning his first international cap and now getting his first goal for us. It always gives you a big lift to look around on the bench and see players like Anthony, Liam (Miller) and Grant (Leadbitter) on the bench behind you and raring to get on.

“Having players like that could make the difference come the end of the season - you never know.”

Keane also praised goalkeeper Marton Fulop – deputising for injured first-choice Darren Ward – whose save from point blank range at the start of the second half kept the Black Cats on level terms.

The Hungarian used both feet to block Rory Fallon’s strike.

After Fallon had seen his first half header cleared off the line by Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards, it seemed likely the home side may suffer if Sunderland countered.

They did and Connolly went close twice before Stokes broke the deadlock.

Keane continued: “I thought the match turned when Marton made that save from their striker at the start of the second half.

“We did the hard work in the first half and in the second half looked even better. We’ve done the job I wanted us to. We’ve come in, got the result, got the points and are getting back out of here again.”

Argyle boss Ian Holloway made six changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Wolves and admitted: “That's the first time this season I think that we have come out second best.

“We have lost a few games this season, some of them 3-0, but for large periods of those games considering the squad I had available I thought we did okay.

“But after a very close first half I thought we just folded in the second half and we were a poor second best to them.

“A lot of credit goes to Sunderland for that but I thought we looked weak out there today. Sometimes we might miss the players that have got the experience to keep you going, when you go a goal behind, the likes of Barry Hayles and Paul Wotton.

“You can name them, you know them and you know when they are not around sometimes.”