SUNDERLAND'S Jeff Whitley admitted he had experienced the biggest high and low of his career in the space of three days.

The midfielder, whose dismissal for an horrific tackle on Preston's Richard Cresswell last Wednesday rules him out of Sunderland's FA Cup semi-final, ended the week with his first goal for the club to seal a 2-0 victory over West Ham.

Whitley's goalmouth block tackle on Hammers skipper Christian Dailly earned the goal, and he conceded: "Wednesday was the low point of my career, but scoring here is the high point.

"The lads have been giving me a bit of stick for not scoring. It was a tackle and a goal, but it's fantastic for me.

"It's a nice end to a tough week. I had to get that Preston game out of my system and it's great to get my first goal. When was my last goal? I'm not too sure. I'd run a long way for this one and I wasn't going to stop.''

Whitley is banned for the semi-final against either Millwall or Tranmere at Old Trafford in just under three weeks' time, and he said: "It's very disappointing for me. It was only after the game the other night that I found out.

"I saw the lad after the game and I apologised, and he accepted my apology. It was a reckless challenge.

"But it won't change the way I play. I genuinely went for the ball and I missed it, but tackling is in my game.

"David Healy, who I played with for Northern Ireland, was with the other Preston players in the lounge after the game and he knows I'm not the sort who goes out to do another player. I like to think I'm a fair player. It's tough for me, but I have to accept it because it was a bad challenge.

"I live in Manchester and I would have had a lot of friends and family going to the semi-final.

"But I just have to be there to support the lads and the staff and hopefully we'll get to the final.''

Whitley, released last season by Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan, added: "It was a massive move for me and I'm really enjoying my football here.

"Mick McCarthy is a good man-manager. I think he knows how to treat individuals. When you have the backing of a manager like him, you just have to go out and play for him.

"The manager at Man. City told me I wasn't in his plans, but Mick brought me here and wanted me to play for him. What better lift for a player than a manager saying that? This is such a big club, who wouldn't want to play here?'