Keane's grand plan still work in progress

ROY KEANE has been following the Manchester United blueprint in an attempt to deliver short-term success and achieve long-term goals at Sunderland.

Whether it has been the backroom set-up, an insistence on meticulous timekeeping or the preparation rituals on the eve of matches, the Irishman has been trying to replicate the ethos of Old Trafford around the Stadium of Light.

But while the standards have dramatically improved over the course of the last 12 months on Wearside, Keane is aware of the huge gulf in quality which remains between the two clubs.

Putting a timescale on how long it would take to transform Sunderland into serious contenders for a Premier League title would be impossible.

But on Keane's first return to his former home since stepping into management, there was a hint from the Black Cats that the former United captain is still doing things right, despite the recent barren run.

After spending more than £36m on 12 players during the summer, the critics were quite right to start questioning how such a major spending spree could suffer four straight defeats.

Keane, however, who has not experienced such a woeful run of form for 11 years, was at least encouraged by Sunderland's latest reversal. A marginal 1-0 loss at United that could quite easily have been a draw.

AFTER the alarming defeats at Luton and Wigan, not to mention the home defeat to Liverpool, Sunderland almost made up for those in the most impressive fashion at Old Trafford.

In a fixture which did more to highlight the inadequacies or lack of form of the Premier League champions, Sunderland manager Roy Keane came within 20 minutes of claiming an unlikely result on his return.

Keane had clearly instructed his players with specific roles and for much of the encounter the defensive game-plan looked as if it was going to work.

Kenwyne Jones, the £6m striker bought from Southampton this week, held up play when he could and improved as the game went on as a lone striker.

Question marks over his work-rate will emerge after this showing, although it could have been that Keane wanted him to preserve his energy for the aerial duels with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

And Keane's other signing on show from the last seven days, Danny Higginbotham, delivered an almost perfect display that had Manchester United struggling to break through.

The £3m centre-back from Stoke slotted straight into a backline that has suffered from injuries. But, given the poor way Greg Halford has settled in so far, perhaps the appearance of Paul McShane as a right-back is a sign of things to come.

On this evidence Sunderland should hand McShane, Nyron Nosworthy, Higginbotham and Danny Collins another opportunity to shine when Reading visit the Stadium of Light in two weeks time.

United striker Louis Saha may have spoilt Sunderland's day out in the 71st minute, but for the first time in a few outings there were at least positive aspects to take from this showing.

United, though, will count themselves lucky. Further displays like this and the Premier League title will be heading for Anfield or back to Stamford Bridge.

Having spent so long under the watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, the 36-year-old had his own ideas on how to overcome the master and for 71 minutes it looked as if his plans had worked.

Negative, by playing Kenwyne Jones up front on his own, they may have been. Yet defensively Sunderland proved equal to the threat posed by the champions - with the exception of one vital lapse.

It was a lapse that ended with Manchester United claiming all three points, courtesy of Louis Saha's near post header when the Frenchman simply stood inbetween Dickson Etuhu and Daryl Murphy.

And it was only then that the United faithful felt relaxed enough to start reciting their own rendition of there's only one Keano'.

The home fans had sung the same anthem when the players emerged from the tunnel beforehand.

Keane, appearing last and flanked by two b o d y g u a r d s , just gave a small wave to those in the Stretford End chanting his name.

That, though, was soon forgotten. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the hero of the Champions League victory in 1999 in Barcelona, stole the show after being given a guard of honour following his retirement this week.

Keane, in truth, would probably have preferred that. And, after giving Solskjaer his own affectionate embrace, it allowed him to concentrate on the game itself.

"It wasn't difficult for me to not think about the old times," said Keane, who occasionally stood side by side Ferguson in the opposing technical areas.

"People were bringing things up to me on the build up to this game about the past, but that was then and this is now. There was no strangeness for me in coming back. None at all.

"I didn't get sucked into all the attention. I was focused. The United fans have always been good to me, even when I let the club down."

One of the moments he was referring to was when he publicly criticised his United team-ma tes towards the back end of 2005. Soon after he was allowed to leave for Celtic.

And, after the way United struggled for creativity and a vibrancy on his homecoming, Keane will have had a few truths stored away for the privacy of his own home on Saturday night.

With a wry smile rising across his face after being asked to comment on United's poor display, he joked: "It's none of my business... But United will be fine... They will be safe!"

Having won seven league titles, four FA Cups and helped them achieve the treble in 1999 during his 13 years at United, Keane knows all about the winning mentality inside the halls of Old Trafford.

It is for that reason he was so keen to see his Sunderland players maintain their concentration levels for the whole match, although he was not too disheartened by the outcome.

After successive defeats to Luton, Liverpool and Wigan, at least there was a response from Sunderland in Manchester which suggested they could take maximum points from Reading on September 15.

"Defeat is a lot worse as a manager,"

said Keane. "Other managers will tell you that. I have to temper what I say, but it's getting the balance right. The players themselves have high standards.

"There's a way to lose matches and I don't think we were too bad here. We have to learn fast in this league. We knew it would be a tough season and we have had five matches, we would have liked more than four points but I'm confident we will be okay. I should sleep better."

With Danny Higginbotham - one of four Sunderland players on show to have played for United - in solid mood on his debut at the heart of the defence, the visitors had an ideal platform to build on.

Craig Gordon, the £9m goalkeeper, continued to repay his price-tag with a number of fine saves. The pick of which arrived just before the hour when he got down low to his right to palm away Saha's turning volley.

And Paul McShane, asked to play full-back to accommodate Higginbotham, could be the answer on the right after the young Irishman kept Nani and Chris Eagles at bay.

Jones, the £6m buy from Southampton last Wednesday, was largely a peripheral figure up front, although when he was called into action he showed some nice touches.

The nearest the Trinidadian came to scoring was with a wild acrobatic kick in the first half, although his performance was more about holding things up and bringing others into play.

Jones next start is likely to be alongside Michael Chopra. How that pairing performs could be the difference between climbing out of the relegation zone or staying there.

Keane, however, felt the defeat at Old Trafford was more about a slight dip in concentration defensively, rather than failing to work Edwin van der Sar.

And suggested Saha should never have had the opportunity to escape from marker Murphy to rise behind Etuhu just 19 minutes from time to head Nani's corner.

Gordon was finally beaten and United clinched a crucial three points.

"Time will tell how my players react to these defeats," said Keane. "But I'm confident when we get the new lads bedded in and fit players back we will be fine."

And with a quick applause in appreciation of the United crowd that worshipped him, Keane departed.

Whether he is back again next season in the Premier League remains to be seen. On the evidence of this, he should be.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Scholes, Hargreaves, Anderson (Saha 46); Eagles (Fletcher 66), Tevez, Nani (O'Shea 84). Subs: Carrick, Kuszczak.

SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Gordon; McShane, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins; Chopra, Leadbitter, Yorke, Etuhu (Stokes 82), Wallace (Miller 82); Jones (Murphy 69). Subs: Ward, Kay.

Watch the match highlights from Monday, September 3