Keane hints at steel reinforcements

Wigan Athletic 1 Sunderland 1: SUNDERLAND MANAGER Roy Keane will put discussions over his long-term future to the back of his mind as he seeks the extra "steel" to move his club up the table.

Keane expressed satisfaction with his side's gutsy draw at Wigan on Saturday then said talk of signing a contract extension at the Stadium of Light was the last thing on his mind.

Keane confirmed: "There have been one or two discussions but my contract situation is not really important this time. The priority is bringing players in and building the team.

"When the club find a time to speak to Michael (Kennedy, Keane's lawyer) we'll see what happens. But we're all so relaxed about it it's untrue. I've got a year left but a year is a hell of a long time in football."

Keane's men looked like they could be heading for three precious points after Titus Bramble's blunder in heading a harmless-looking Steed Malbranque cross into his own net after 13 minutes.

But Wigan roared back and a sustained period of second-half pressure finally told 12 minutes from time when the Egyptian striker Amr Zaki extended his phenomenal scoring rate to five in five games by prodding the equaliser.

Keane was impressed with the efforts of his defensive debutants Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney but said he would be on the lookout for reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Keane added: "The great teams have got a bit of steel in them. We got turned over here last year and we needed to be stronger than that. That will come from good players and good characters.

"I maybe felt we were a soft touch. Certainly that's something we need to improve and I'm working on it. It will take time. We're not a team yet. That will come in the next few weeks and months."

Keane's satisfaction at gaining a point was understandable given the performance of a Wigan side who had struck 11 goals in their previous two matches and were clearly in the mood to add more.

Despite long-haul midweek international commitments, Steve Bruce's men acquitted themselves well after a shaky start and had a catalogue of chances to draw level before Zaki's late strike.

But manager Bruce - who had no complaints about Lee Cattermole's 86th-minute sending-off for a second bookable offence - admitted it might have been different had Djibril Cisse made the most of a rare chance.

Cisse found himself clean through in the box just past the hour mark but hesitated over his shot and allowed keeper Chris Kirkland to advance and block his low effort with his feet.