THERE was a sense of deja vu surrounding Sunderlands hapless Carling Cup exit to Luton - yes, Black Cats supporters must have felt weve been here before.

Nearly a year to the day, to be precise, when they crashed out at the same stage of the competition to the Football Leagues bottom club Bury.

The 900 plus fans, who made the trip to Kenilworth Road, must have felt those dark days were long gone following the installation of Roy Keane as manager and the millions he has had at his disposal. But the Wearsiders reverted to old type against Kevin Blackwells League One outfit.

The North-East visitors were never in the game at all and the home side deserved to book their place in round three of the competition.

There was no cohesion in defence, midfield or up front, and it looked as if the players had been thrown together for the first time.

But if there can be anything positive to take from the defeat then it would be that Keanes men dont have the distraction of the Carling Cup anymore. They can now concentrate on building on the four points they took from their first two games of the season.