Sunderland 0, Wigan 3

5:01pm Saturday 5th January 2008

WELL at least there's the relegation fight to look forward to. A dreadful Sunderland performance in a dour FA Cup encounter which has left the Wearside faithful with little to celebrate in 2008.

And to make matters worse, Roy Keane's first signing of the January transfer window had his own sorry part to play in the Black Cats' demise against Wigan.

Everyone at the Stadium of Light knows how much talent Jonny Evans possesses, although even Keane should be furious for his part in this third round exit.

After Austrian Paul Scharner's first half opener, when he coasted in between Nyron Nosworthy and Paul McShane, Evans was responsible for gifting Julius Aghahowa a glorious chance after the break.

The striker charged through and McShane's attempted clearance turned the ball beyond keeper Craig Gordon. There was no way back.

There will be those who suggest that there are no distractions for Keane's men now that they can focus on Premier League survival.

Further repeats of this type of showing, however, and there will only be one final destination for Sunderland: The Championship.

There are no excuses for a result, albeit in a cup competition, like this and the way David Cotterill was allowed to fire in a third hammered home Sunderland's failings.

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