Sunderland 1 Fulham 1:Sunderland manager Roy Keane believes he may have identified the reason for his side's sluggish first-half performance against Fulham - the club's intense training sessions.

England's under-21 coach Stuart Pearce visited Sunderland's training ground last week and Keane's former team-mate at Nottingham Forest observed some of his old pal's coaching methods. Keane admitted Pearce had forced him to consider the possibility he was working his players too hard in the build-up to games.

"It's something, as a manager, I have to look at because we are starting games too slowly," said Keane. "It might also explain why we are getting so many injuries.

"I'm not stupid enough to believe me and the staff have got all the answers and, if someone you trust says they've not seen that level of intensity at other clubs, then it's something to think about. I'd hate my players to walk through it but maybe it could be a shorter session."

Keane's side spent most of this match looking as though they were heading to another dispiriting defeat as a slick Fulham team outpassed and outfought them.

Indeed, the first 45 minutes were perhaps the most insipid seen under Keane. Fulham, though, did not capitalise fully and, although Simon Davies gave them the lead with a delicious curling free-kick, they failed to kill Sunderland off. David Healy missed a glorious chance when he somehow managed to put a first-time shot wide of an unguarded net.

Sunderland were booed off for the first time this season at half-time but Keane's words had the desired effect.

Despite losing Greg Halford midway through the second half for a second yellow card, they got their reward when the impressive Kenwyne Jones glanced in Grant Leadbitter's cross after 86 minutes. Substitute Anthony Stokes had a late chance to snatch victory but his poor first touch allowed Antti Niemi to foil his effort.