Sbragia lays into Sunderland after stalemate

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia may be far more mild-mannered than predecessor Roy Keane but that didn’t stop him slamming his side after their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Saturday’s stalemate here at the Stadium of Light left both sides five points clear of the relegation zone.

But with no other teams in Premier League action this weekend, there was a sense that Sunderland and Spurs had each let slip a marvellous opportunity to gain valuable breathing space in the increasingly tense struggle for survival.

Sunderland were on the brink of achieving a win when Robbie Keane scored an 89th minute goal to extend Tottenham’s timely unbeaten run to four games.

It was a goal that exposed Sunderland’s players to the angry side of Sbragia, who was unhappy at the way the Black Cats approached the game after taking a third minute lead through Kieran Richardson.

“We went one up, then sat back let them dominate the tempo,” said Sbargia. “It’s the same old story – 1-0 up after 89 minutes and we started to lose our discipline.

“George McCartney is our left-back and is supposed to defend, but for some reason he was in their box in the 89th minute and that’s the position where their goal has come from.

“We shot ourselves in the foot and it has happened a few times this season. It’s absolutely crazy. I was shouting at players at the end, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other.”

Even Richardson’s goal failed to shield him from Sbragia’s ire.

The midfielder collected his tenth yellow card of the season and now faces another suspension.

“He was running around like a headless chicken and trying to get booked,” Sbragia said. “He continued to get involved with the referee and eventually picked up that tenth booking. That didn’t please me.”

Sunderland, nine points adrift of the safety target set by Sbragia, are next at home to Wigan as the relegation countdown continues.

Spurs, meanwhile, prepare for a difficult trip to Aston Villa, but manager Harry Redknapp said: “It’s in our favour that we are playing well. We are in good form.”

In truth, they rarely looked at their best at the Stadium of Light although Redknapp insisted: “I thought we dominated after going behind. We camped in their half and had possession, but couldn’t open the door. It was frustrating that we couldn’t get the goal we deserved.

“We couldn’t pick a pass or do something clever to finish them off, but we finally got what we deserved with Robbie’s goal.”

Redknapp added: “We never gave up and ended the match with three defenders and seven forwards. There was always a chance they would break away and score, but we had to go for it.

“I’m pleased it fell to Robbie because he’s such a good finisher. It’s a vital point for us.”

Redknapp’s latest assessment of the Premier League dogfight is that more than half the teams in the division are involved.

“So many teams are still in it from Fulham downwards and I’m sure Steve Bruce at Wigan (who are ninth with 35 points, eight above the bottom three) is still hoping for another win.”