Downing 'in credit' with Southgate

Michael Chopra went on to net a late double for the Black Cats in the Tyne-Wear derby, with the penalty proving the game's turning point, but Southgate refused to blame Downing for the defeat.

"He is exactly the same as the others in that they are all devastated to lose a derby game," said Southgate.

"Obviously he will replay that in his mind hundreds and hundreds of times over the weekend, so it is going to hurt him more than everybody else in the long run," he added.

"But listen, he is well in credit with us as a club. He has won us so many matches through his goals, through his assists.

"I have just said to them in there, we lose as a team. Yes, that moment might have swung the game because the whole emotion in the stadium changed then.

"But he kid has been fantastic for us for a number of years now. He is a joy to work with, as they all are, and we have got to pick him up and make sure he realises how important he is to us."

Opposite number Roy Keane was full of praise for returning goalscorer Chopra and claimed: "The game was probably written for Chops. He has been a big player for me, people forget that.

"He scored some important goals for us last year, and here he took his opportunity.

"He has a dead leg - but when you have scored a couple of goals, I am sure it won't be anywhere near as sore as if we had been beaten."