Keane rues missed opportunity
Roy Keane was left rueing missed chances after watching his Sunderland side dominate his first Wear-Tyne derby as Black Cats boss.
But he refused to criticise players who did everything that could have been expected of them except put the ball in the back of the net.
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Danny Higginbotham's opener was cancelled out by James Milner in a 1-1 draw – ending Newcastle's run of five successive derby victories but leaving the Wearsiders 27 years without a home win over their biggest rivals.
Keane said: "If you look at the chances we had and the way we played, I think we should have got all three points.
"But if you keep missing chances it's very hard to win any game and, on balance, I think Sam will be a slightly happier manager than me tonight.
"We are not getting that little bit of luck, but sometimes you have to make your own luck.
"We should have finished better in the first half and Kenwyne Jones had a chance at the end, but if you don't hit the target you're never going to win a bloody game.
"Having said that though, I'm pleased with the performances individually and how they played generally.
"The priority for any derby match is that you certainly don't lose it and we didn't do that so we take the pluses.
"It's a learning game for my players right now and they'll have learned from that experience – what they also need to learn is that you have to learn quickly in the Premiership."
* More reaction from Roy Keane in tonight's Football Echo
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Friday 10 February 2012
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