Keane: No repeat of Forest nightmare

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The common perception in the first season of the Premier League was that Brian Clough's side were too good to go down, but they were relegated — with Clough's retirement and Keane's departure for Manchester United among the repercussions for Forest.

Haunted by the past: Roy Keane

"The most important lesson I learnedwas that football didn't owe anybody a living," he said. "Nobody believed Brian Clough's side could be relegated.

"Was football a cruel game? It could be if you dropped your standards even five per cent — if you started to believe that because you had talent, you were too good to go down."

There is no danger of Keane's Sunderland side becoming complacent as they prepare for their remaining 15 League fixtures, which will include games against fellow strugglers Wigan, Derby, Fulham, Bolton and Birmingham, who visit the Stadium of Light tonight.

Haunted by the memory of that Forest side, Keane has been lecturing his players on the pitfalls ahead.

He said: "You cannot kid yourself. You are never too good to go down. If the league finished today, we would be relegated.

"There is anxiety and tension in the air here, which is what you expect. I said this time last year that you get to the stage of a season when it is how you are mentally that is important. It's the same this year."

Rade Prica and Phil Bardsley are expected to make their debuts tonight after making a good impression.

Keane said: "With these two there was no rigmarole, they were straight in and ready for training."