Sunderland 2 QPR 1:Roy Keane has led Sunderland to the Premiership's doorstep displaying an enthusiasm for constant rotation which leaves Rafael Benitez looking a touch predictable and a penchant for making game-altering substitutions that even Jose Mourinho might admire.
Indeed Keane has changed his starting XI 39 times in succession this season, fielding 36 players, and is proving a dab hand at securing late wins by judicious use of the bench. On Saturday, for instance, Grant Leadbitter came on to score the winning goal five days after he had done precisely the same thing at Southampton.
"I've driven it through to the players that 11 of them wouldn't be enough to get us promoted," said Keane. "You need a big squad and all these lads have got to accept it. I know players are upset but nobody has kicked my door in yet and I wouldn't expect them to. Actions speak louder than words; that means training properly, being on time, not sulking and taking your chances."
John Gregory feels Keane, whose side could clinch promotion on Saturday, deserves a chance to pit his wits against Mourinho, Benitez and Alex Ferguson. "Roy expects certain standards and he's certainly getting the best out of his players," said QPR's manager. "Sunderland - who are by far the best team we've played this season - West Brom and Southampton are probably the only teams in the Championship who get the ball off the goalkeeper and play it out from the back. Sunderland pass it as well as West Brom but with the intention of actually getting somewhere. They've just got that bit of devil in them which obviously comes from the manager."
Sunderland - given an early lead by Dean Whitehead's shot but pegged back by Martin Rowlands' equaliser from the penalty spot before Leadbitter's 20-yard decider - were far from their slick-passing, incisive-crossing best here and the slightly apologetic look on Keane's face as he shook hands with Gregory afterwards spoke volumes.
Back in the late 1990s Gregory was hailed as the brightest new manager on the block after briefly leading Aston Villa to the top of the Premiership. There was talk of him coaching England and a record which saw Villa never finish below eighth during his time in charge was far from shabby. But managerial stars can wane as fast as they wax and Gregory, who seems increasingly likely to keep QPR in the Championship, spent three years unemployed before returning to Loftus Road last September.
"I know about the Premiership, I've been there," he reminded everyone. "I don't know about Sunderland taking it by storm but, without a doubt, it will be more interesting with Roy Keane in it."
It will be more attacking, too. Once Leadbitter scored, many managers would have ordered their sides to shut up shop but Sunderland continued pouring forward. "I admire attack-minded teams and I'd rather have players who want to get that third goal," said Keane. "Ultimately that's what fans pay their money to come and see."
Crowds were down to 24,000 when he came in. Saturday's was over 39,000. It must be hoped the realities of competing with Mourinho and Benitez do not turn the Championship maverick into a Premiership pragmatist.
Guardian Service
SUNDERLAND: Ward, Simpson, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Edwards, Whitehead, Yorke (Leadbitter 61), Wallace (John 46), Connolly, Murphy (Stokes 77). Subs not used: Fulop, Elliott. Booked: Simpson.
QPR: Camp, Bignot, Cullip (Kanyuka 43), Stewart, Timoska, Bolder, Rowlands, Lomas (Idiakez 83), Moore (Furlong 69), Blackstock, Smith. Subs not used: Cole, Nygaard. Booked: Cullip, Bolder, Furlong.
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).
