Sunderland 3-2 Town : Reaction

Speaking in the after match press conferencem Royle admitted his sides poor defending had cost them at least a point: "I would have been disappointed to come away with a draw so you can imagine how I feel. The first goal we conceded was criminal, our inability to defend crosses is criminal. Our goalkeeper has had an outstanding season yet we have not had a clean sheet."

Royle also confessed that he was angry with referee Mathieson who failed to send off Black Cats striker Kevin Kyle, who was lucky to stay on the pitch after comitting a number of offences whilst on a yellow card: "I don't want to see players sent off, but the lad who scored the winner should not have even been on the pitch.

"He could have been sent off twice in the first half and Mick McCarthy has acknowledged that. He has calmed him down at half-time but we will have a player sent off at some stage of the season for less than that."

Meanwhile Royle's opposite number, former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy saw the incident somewhat differentley: "Too many things happened in the game for it to be an issue," said McCarthy.

"I thought the lad was different class, he excites the crowd, he frustrates them, he lifts them and he will do for me. Markers will be sick of the sight of him but let's not get carried away, centre halves are no shrinking violets, I know from experience. He is not a dirty player.