The Sunderland manager was fuming after the Black Cats' performance and result at the Reebok Stadium.

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But, on reflection this week, the Irishman feels that, in the long term, it could be an important turning point.

He told the Football Echo: "I hate to say it but I'm coming round to the thought that last Saturday might actually have been a good thing for us.

"Had we won at Bolton and done well against Arsenal this weekend, we might have thought we were not too far away from where we wanted to be.
"But last week showed me something.

"I wanted to see a Sunderland side more relaxed because the pressure was off.

"There have been a lot of must-win games for us this season and I thought that, given the fact that we were safe, I might see another side of the players.

"I wanted to see them express themselves knowing that the match wasn't vital for us in terms of staying up and I thought I would see a good game and a good performance from us but of course I didn't see that.

"And now I think that the one or two good results we got, against the likes of Middlesbrough, were just covering the cracks.

"There have been a lot of false dawns at this club over the years and I'm not going to let this be another one if I can help it. We have asked the fans to be patient this season and they have been, they've been great.

"But I wouldn't blame the fans if they turned around and said we've been patient for a very long time now.

"Even when we weren't at it during the game against Bolton, there were times when I still felt that we might even get a result out of the game.

"But when we didn't, I had to take a long hard look at things and there's no doubt in my mind that we have to make changes.

"We have to change players' attitudes and if players can't do that then they have to move on."