Keane refuses to put referee on the spot after harsh penalty gifts City the points

As Keane reflected on a frantic conclusion to what had been a mundane fixture, the door was wide open for him to blame the referee for his team's failure to earn a share of the spoils and a further point in their bid for Premier League safety.

Riley awarded a penalty 11 minutes from time when Manchester City substitute Daniel Sturridge went down far too easily in Sunderland's penalty area.

There was no contact with closest defender Nyron Nosworthy and the Brazilian Elano opened the scoring from the spot.

But Keane said: "Sometimes players just lose their balance. I think it would be unfair of me to say the lad dived because I don't know him. A lot of players go down in the box and it happens all the time. I'm not going to complain. There's nothing I can do about it now.

"We have to look at ourselves. We conceded two bad goals and I could have taken seven or eight players off at half-time. The rules only allow three. Too many people have taken their eye off the ball and started to believe the rubbish written this week. Some of the players and staff have been listening to the wrong people when they should have been listening to me.

"There's been all the talk focusing on next season and relaxing between now and the summer — blah, blah, blah. I've never seen such rubbish. I expected the other team would win today. I had a feeling in my bones."

Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead momentarily raised spirits with a volleyed equaliser three minutes after Elano's disputed penalty but any optimism among the home fans was short-lived. Darius Vassell, who replaced fellow substitute Sturridge eight minutes from time, grabbed a late winner with a horribly scuffed shot.

Pretty it was not, but the goal still had City's manager Sven Goran Eriksson dreaming of Europe. "The winning goal was not one of the greatest strikes I've ever seen in my life but it went in," he said. "And, of course, there was a bit of luck with the penalty. It was a bit harsh, but there was contact, even though I couldn't see it from the bench.

"I hope we can maintain this form between now and the end of the season so we can at least dream about playing in Europe next season."

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Bardsley, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins; Chopra (O'Donovan 79min), Whitehead, Reid, Richardson (Leadbitter 46); Jones, Murphy (Edwards 62). Subs (not used): Fulop, McShane.

MAN CITY (4-5-1): Hart; Jihai, Corluka, Dunne, Ball; Elano (Hamann 89), Ireland (Sturridge 58, Vassell 83), Fernandes, Johnson, Petrov; Benjani. Subs (not used): Isaksson, Geovanni. Booked: Gelson, Corluka.

Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire).