Keane so cross with officials over Reading's late winner

Seven days after a decisive late header that would have given his team victory over Aston Villa was ruled out by referee Steve Bennett, Sunderland's comeback was denied a point by a linesman who controversially ruled Hunt's shot was over the line.

"Nobody is certain the ball crossed the line," said Keane. "If the officials are not sure, they shouldn't give it. We watched it a few times and it's still unclear. All I can say is that if the referee's assistant can see it, then he must have fantastic vision."

Keane claimed the ruling was the latest in a catalogue of errors that have helped to put his team in trouble.

"Hundreds of decision have gone against us. If we stop to chat about that we'll be here all night and we might even miss our Christmas dinner."

After Bennett felt Keane's wrath last week, Steve Tanner was the referee accused by the Sunderland manager of making blunders that contributed to the outcome of this crucial relegation clash.

"It wasn't just the winning goal," said Keane. "The free-kick which led to their first goal shouldn't have been given and the throw-in that led to their second was the wrong way.

"They were big decisions and it's enough to make you lose the head, but we have to rise above it."

In truth, a sixth successive league defeat on the road was no less than Sunderland deserved, even if it came in debatable circumstances.

A brilliant reaction save by recalled £9million goalkeeper Craig Gordon stopped Hunt's close-range header, and when the busy midfielder beat the Scot with a 25-yard drive early in the second half, the ball rebounded back into play off an upright.

The pressure finally told when Gordon could only push out Ibrahima Sonko's header and Ivar Ingimarsson bundled in his first goal of the season.

Sonko's clumsy challenge on the lively Kenwyne Jones gifted Sunderland a penalty from which Michael Chopra calmly scored the equaliser.

But Hunt scored the winner from an angle. Gordon clawed the ball out, but assistant Steve Rubery raised his flag and Reading claimed an important win.