Championship Preview Crystal Palace v Sunderland Selhurst ParkSunderland manager Roy Keane has admitted the pressures of the English Championship can be even greater than life in the top flight.

The 35-year-old takes his side to Crystal Palace tonight sitting 11th in the table and just four points off the play-off places.

But he is quickly having to come to terms with the demands of his job and the hunger for a quick return to the Premiership.

"The Championship is a tough league. It is a bit of a rat race," Keane said. "Everybody is beating each other.

"We all want to be back in the Premiership, there is no doubt about that. That is the place to be.

"You look at the managerial casualties this year, especially in the Championship, and sometimes there is even more pressure on a manager in the Championship than in the Premier League because everyone just wants to get back into that Premiership, for whatever reason.

"A lot of people look at the financial side of it, but you have just got to try to stay focused."

Keane admits he has made mistakes since accepting chairman Niall Quinn's invitation to launch his managerial career at the Stadium of Light in August.

However, a man who gleaned all he could from Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson during his glittering playing career is avidly pursuing his education with his passion for success undimmed.

"I have made a lot of mistakes so far as a manager, but you have got to learn quickly, especially in the Championship, because too many mistakes and you are out of a job."

Sunderland head for London on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run, although it took a remarkable fightback at Burnley last weekend to secure a point after they trailed 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining.

Striker Stephen Elliott is a doubt with a hamstring problem.