Roy Keane....!

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Leeds Reserves 0 Sunderland Reserves 3

Roy Keane was given a double boost today when Steve Caldwell and Stephen Elliott both came through a reserve game at Leeds, writes Nick Alexander.

Caldwell, who has not played in the Championship since the second week of the season, was given a 60-minute run-out while Elliott played for the last 25 minutes, making two goals.

The striker's last appearance in the first team was at Leeds on September 13 when he sustained an ankle ligament injury in Sunderland's 3-0 win.

Scottish centre-back Caldwell, returning from a knee injury, looked strong and with Kenny Cunningham ruled out because of a knee problem, he could now make a first-team return at Hull on Saturday.

The game at the KC Stadium, however, is likely to come too soon for Elliott.

Keane was at Leeds' Thorpe Arch training ground to watch Sunderland's win. New United boss Dennis Wise and his No 2 Gus Poyet also took in the game.

The goals came in the second half, two of them from teenage substitute David Dowson who was only on for 13 minutes.

Tobias Hysen opened the scoring in the 53rd minute through a left-foot drive after getting the ball from Kevin Smith, who came through the ranks at Leeds before joining Sunderland.

Elliott came on in the 65th minute, Dowson 12 minutes later and they combined to make Sunderland's last two goals.

The second came in the 83rd minute when Dowson's back-heel put in Elliott. His left-foot shot across keeper Neil Sullivan hit the post and Dowson was in the right place to slot home the rebound.

Dowson scored his second and Sunderland's third in the 89th minute. Elliott's shot from the edge of the area was only parried by Sullivan and Dowson followed up to score with a side-foot shot.

The Leeds line-up included first-team hopefuls Sullivan, Sean Gregan and Robbie Blake.

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[redrus]

KISS AND MAKE UP

By redissue

Wednesday 1st November 2006

Keane and McCarthy have made friends

Mick McCarthy has found it necessary to tell the world that he has made up with Roy Keane. McCarthy bleated the news to Wolves' official website

"I wanted to enquire about a couple of players and I always believe that you should speak to the manager direct.

"That's no different with Roy now he is manager at Sunderland, so I picked up the phone and he accepted the call.

"We both felt it was the right time to talk and it was a cordial conversation.

"We chatted about the players and a couple of other things that will remain private.

"It's been four years now and it should be put to bed. Life goes on.

"The only two people who weren't getting anything out of it were me and Roy.

"It's the media that drives it on and we've both got difficult enough jobs without others putting spanners in it."

Unsurprisingly there are no quotes from Keane.

redrus

[muckypups]

Another take on the kiss-and-make-up theme here..from the Guardian.."The Fiver"

PEACEY KEANE

It's come too late to help the Republic of Ireland fulfil their potential by winning the 2002 World Cup, but today the country's temperamental former captain Roy Keane revealed that he and erstwhile Ireland boss Mick McCarthy have finally agreed to stick their epic feud up their respective bo***ckses.

Four and a half years ago, in the wake of the pair's most infamous rhubarb, everyone from Irish premier Bertie Ahern to Scottish tyrant Sir Fergie tried to negotiate a peace deal between the two men and failed miserably. Yet it seems that where these luminaries floundered, a 23-year-old no-mark defender has succeeded. For peace broke out earlier this week when McCarthy rang Keane to inquire about the availability of substitute centre-back Neill Collins, who has since moved from Sunderland to Wolves. "He [McCarthy] didn't go through an agent or the chairman or a friend of a player, he rang me direct," gushed a visibly moved Keane before adding tearfully: "that was much appreciated."

"It's good to move on in life because life is short," philosophised Keane, as an increasingly straggly, flower-strewn mane flowed where once there'd been a brutal crew-cut. "It was all very amicable," he continued while strumming a Byrds medley on a handcrafted acoustic guitar. "We did chat about what has gone on before and it's nice to put these things to bed," he tweeted. "We were both happy to talk things over. Now it'd done and dusted."

Yet to the question 'what exactly did you say to each other?', a coy Keane would only reply: "I'm not going into the conversation," causing the Fiver to wonder if McCarthy had said what the Fiver surely would have roared if it were him: "When I was in charge of Sunderland I didn't have the money you do but I took them to the Premiership as champions ... let's see you do that, Mr I-won't train-on-anything-less-than-a-red-f**king-carpet-know-it-all."

[Jockstar]

Keane defends referees and slams 'cheating' players

Roy Keane has claimed a number of players in the game are 'conning' and 'cheating' in an unlikely defence of referees.

The former Manchester United midfielder, now manager of Sunderland, clashed with officials on many occasions in his fiery playing days but now seems happy to back the men in the middle.

The performances of referees have been brought under the spotlight this week after a number of controversial decisions by top official Graham Poll in games involving Chelsea and Everton.

Yet Keane feels referees are not being helped by the players and is particularly concerned by the recent number of diving incidents in the Premiership.

The 35-year-old said: 'Players are conning each other, there's a lot of sneaky stuff going on and I'm glad I'm not playing.

'There were lads I played with who went down like they'd been shot, and it drove me crazy. I'd pull my hair out.

'We all know the players and I wouldn't give them the time of day. I can't get my head round a player who rolls round then he's up 30 seconds later. I'd be embarrassed.

'It's cheating and if I'd done that my family would disown me. Referees are scrutinised left, right and centre and the players aren't helping them.'

Keane's comments may come as a surprise, particularly to those who remember his outburst at Andy D'Urso in a United match against Middlesbrough seven years ago.

But Keane said of that incident: 'I wouldn't say I'm embarrassed by that, but it's hard to make excuses. I was 100% wrong.

'I still think the veins were superimposed by a bit of camera trickery. Mr D'Urso was the middle man in the (Arsene) Wenger and (Alan) Pardew incident and my heart went out to him, it always seems to be him.'

[muckypups]

Sunderland manager Roy Keane says he offers referees visiting the Stadium of Light a "cup of tea and a nice sandwich" as a charm offensive. (Sun)

.. I daresay they won't be prawn sandwiches though....

[redrus]

More on the big showdown of the weekend....

They kiss and make up ahead of showdown.

From the Guardian:

There was a time, quite recently, when it was unthinkable that Steve Harmison's bowling would generate more interest than the prospect of Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy shaking hands in public, but McCarthy's telephone call to Keane a fortnight ago and Keane's conciliatory tone - has defused their meeting prior to Wolves' game against Sunderland tonight. As Keane said yesterday: "Change is good."

Determined not to revisit the events of Saipan 4 years ago, Keane said once again that a handshake will be forthcoming and that there may be a chat in McCarthy's office afterwards, as is managerial tradition.

“I spoke to Mick a few weeks ago and we put everything to bed. As far as I'm concerned it's about the players tomorrow, it's Sunderland versus Wolves and everyone should be talking about that.”

McCarthy was similarly disposed. “I will shake his hand, of course I will, and it will be a genuine gesture and not something for the TV cameras. I will also ask Roy into my office for a drink afterwards - I know he doesn't drink alcohol but I'll pour him a lemonade or a cola or a coffee or whatever he wants.”

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