KEVIN KILBANE admitted his "embarrassment'' after being at the centre of another shameful episode.

The Sunderland midfielder's under-hit backpass handed Middlesbrough striker Malcolm Christie the chance to seal only his side's second Premiership away victory this season, in Saturday's derby at the Stadium of Light.

Kilbane, who failed with a crucial penalty in the Republic of Ireland's shoot-out elimination by Spain at last summer's World Cup after missing a sitter from a spot-kick rebound in normal time, is earning an unfortunate reputation as one of football's calamity kids.

His blunder against Boro, moments after Kevin Phillips' stunning strike had thrown Sunderland a lifeline at 2-1 down, plunged Howard Wilkinson's side into even deeper relegation waters as they headed for their ninth home League defeat this term.

Kilbane's stock, already low in the eyes of the Wearside faithful after his disgraceful two-fingered gesture to fans during the Black Cats' pre-season trip to Belgium, is now at rock-bottom.

He was booed virtually every time he touched the ball following his mistake, and again when he was eventually substituted.

But he was brave enough to face the press after his latest mishap and confessed: "I hold my hands up, it was my fault.

"Kevin scored a fantastic goal to get us back into the game. We were up for it then, and I'm highly disappointed with myself.

"When the lads come into the dressing room, you don't know where to look because of the embarrassment.

"I can understand the fans booing me. If I was a supporter I probably would have done the same.

"I just have to take it on the chin.''

Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland are now seven points adrift of safety, and while Kilbane insisted the players would "fight to the death'' to preserve their Premiership status, he acknowledged: "Your belief is bound to waver after a defeat like this.

"We have ten games left and 30 points to play for, and it's a big task. It was always going to be a big task, but it's an even bigger one now.

"We conceded two sloppy goals from set-pieces in the first half and that was disappointing. We've not been winning at home; we're not giving our fans what they are coming here for - and that's a victory.

"We're not getting the breaks, but you can't make excuses. You have to make your own luck and we have to try to follow in for second balls, like Chris Riggott did for Boro's first two goals.

"I'm sure this defeat has hurt the lads a lot, but we still believe we can carry ourselves through this. We need to start performing for the fans.

"We're 100 per cent behind the manager, we're up for the fight and we'll fight to the death.''

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