Sunderland manager Roy Keane believes his players deserve a lot of credit for sitting 15th in the table heading into the last three games.Speaking ahead of Saturday's Wear-Tees derby clash against Middlesbrough, Keane insists his players must respond to their latest challenge as they have done all season.

He said: "We have had setbacks, and that's why my players deserve a lot of credit for where they are in the league, believe it or not, because despite the injuries and one or two decisions by officials, with three games to go, we are five points clear of the third-bottom team.

"I think we would have taken that a few months ago."

More Football News from TEAMtalk