Keane defends his tactics

Sunderland boss Roy Keane has defended his tactics after the Black Cats slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Everton courtesy of an Andy Johnson goal. Kenwyne Jones cut a lowly figure playing up front on his own.

"We didn't have two up front, but we had Murphy out wide on the left, Chops did well on the right and we had Grant (Leadbitter) and Kieran (Richardson)," Keane said.

"So I don't think it was a defensive shape. We felt it would be a cagey type of game and we didn't want to be leaving two or three up front.

"But we do need to get the balance right; we've played that shape before and looked a threat, but also looked exposed behind.

"Once again it is dictated by the result and we lost, so people will say it was wrong. But I have no problem with how we tried to play. "