SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane revealed he prepared for tonight's Championship fixture with Queens Park Rangers by having a family day out at the pictures.

Keane was the focus of the nation's viewing himself when his Sunderland team extended their unbeaten run to three games in Friday night's high-profile draw with Mick McCarthy's Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

But the Black Cats boss let slip yesterday that he spent time with his family in a bid to unwind following all the hype surrounding the meeting with his former Republic of Ireland manager. It was the first time the pair had clashed since they publicly fell out prior to the 2002 World Cup in Japan.

Keane confessed he fancied taking in the James Bond movie, Casino Royale, but ended up viewing Flushed Away, following a democratic decision taken by an executive committee - his wife and kids.

Flushed Away is an animated feature following the fortunes of a sophisticated rodent living an upper class lifestyle, until an untimely mishap propels him into the unfamiliar surroundings of the sewers. It could easily provide a metaphor for the peaks and troughs of Keane's football career.

The movie also provides a parallel with the club. Sunderland were in danger of being 'flushed away' until Niall Quinn and the Drumaville consortium's timely take-over. But now, the Bond-like Keane is leading the Black Cats on a 'secret service' style mission to deliver the success-starved club long-deserved prosperity.

"I've got five kids, if you can call that a day off," quipped Keane, whose team is level on points with tonight's opponents but one place below them in the table.

"A trip to the pictures was my day off. You've got to switch off. It'll be easier to do that when the family's up in this area.

"I went to see Flushed Away. It wasn't bad. I laughed more than the kids. I wanted to see James Bond but my kids wouldn't have it. I was trying to drag them in. I hope I get a choice at the next film."

Keane made it known he hopes his family - still based in Cheshire - will move to the North-East before Christmas. It provides further evidence the Irishman is on Wearside for the long haul.

"They're moving up next month," he said. "It's not been too bad but long term it's no good not having them up here. Them not being here is not straightforward. You've got to give notices at schools and you've got to find a school and find a house.

"Long term it'd be difficult without them, but at the moment it's manageable.

"When I do go back to Manchester I do tend to switch off. I'm not picking up local papers or meeting local fans so there's been a benefit to it, but I know that's no good long term."

QPR will provide a tough test for Sunderland extending their unbeaten run to four at Loftus Road tonight. The Superhoops suffered a setback on Saturday, losing 1-0 on home soil to Mickey Adams' Coventry City, but prior to that John Gregory's outfit were unbeaten in five.

"John has done a brilliant job there," said Keane. "They won at Cardiff last week, which says a lot about the team and their spirit, and it makes them even more of a danger being at home.

"A decent team will always bounce back well. We're unbeaten in three games and we need to keep that going. I always enjoyed playing at QPR. The fans are on the pitch and we'll bring a few down with us and make an atmosphere."

Sunderland are still without Chris Brown, who sprained his ankle in training last week, but Keane hopes to have Daryl Murphy back. Dwight Yorke is likely to be rested this evening.

* Derby boss Billy Davies wants to keep Jon Stead at Pride Park.

Stead, on loan from Sunderland until the turn of the year, took his tally to three goals in as many games in Saturday's 1-0 win over Leicester.

Davies said: "I'm convinced this is the right place for him. We just hope something can be done.