Manager Reaction to Boro win

After watching his side stuff our neighbours from Boro thanks to a great pen from Downing and a brace from Chops. Sunderland manager Roy Keane was modest about his side`s victory.

Keane told safc.com "It's good to have Chopra back, he's had a difficult time and the suspension did not help but he looked back to his old self today."

"He looked sharp this week; I thought the least he deserved was to be on the bench. The subs had an influence on the game, since I've been here they usually have."

"If you want to be a top footballer your life has got to be decent off the pitch, I've been there. Chops had things going on off the pitch. You need a clear mind and you need to be focused, Chops obviously wasn't."

"I'm not knocking him, he's a young lad, but he's looked back to his old self this week."

"It was touch and go whether he would be involved today but we had a little match in training yesterday; the score was 3-1 and he scored three, so there you go, he forced his way back into my plans and I like that."

"We rode our luck a bit today and it was probably written for Chops."

"He's been a big player for me, people forget that; he scored some important goals last year and he took his opportunity today."

"I take my hat off to Boro, they are a good team, I like the way they play, the way they attack, they have a go. You have got to compliment that."

"I've been lucky in my three games against Middlesbrough, today and twice last season."

"Craig made some good saves, as did their keeper, and obviously they missed a penalty, that was a big turning point. Even the top players can miss penalties."

Vital Sunderland Says

It`s good to see the manager backing Chops to beat his demons and it already paying off is he can continue in his rich vein of form.

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