THE 'Roy Keane razzmatazz' might be beginning to wear off, but Darren Ward feels a return to normality has assisted Sunderland's attempts to climb the Championship table.

Three months ago, Keane's arrival at the Stadium of Light was accompanied by an explosion of media interest in the former Manchester United midfielder's conversion to the managerial ranks.

That interest intensified even further 2 weeks ago when Keane was reacquainted with his former nemesis, Mick McCarthy. Since then, the national spotlight has turned away from Wearside.

With the media frenzy having abated, Sunderland have recorded back-to-back wins over Queens Park Rangers and Norwich and, while the increased attention has undoubtedly helped to raise the Black Cats' profile, Ward is delighted that the focus has shifted.

"You'd have to ask the manager how he feels about the attention," said the shot-stopper. "But I think it's helped to have a bit more of a low-key environment to work in.

"The way he (Keane) goes about his business and conducts himself around the building, I don't think he favours all the razzmatazz and hype that we saw earlier this season.

"There's nothing that we as players can do about it, but it could well be in our interest that all of that is starting to die down a little bit."

Saturday's success over the Canaries extended Sunderland's unbeaten run to five games, the best sequence since Keane was appointed as Niall Quinn's successor in late August.

The latest win took the Black Cats to within five points of the play-offs but the mid-table logjam means they still find themselves in the bottom half of the Championship rankings.

"I don't think the league table really reflects the run that we've been on," claimed Ward. "If we hadn't been on that run for the last five games, it might have been interesting to have seen where we would have been.

"But I think there's a collective belief now that, each game we go out there, there's a great chance we're going to keep a clean sheet and a great chance we're going to score. With the ability and firepower we have in our team, we're always going to create chances.

"Put those two things together and it's a recipe for winning football matches. The squad is strong, and the run that we've been on can only have boosted our confidence.

"But it's very important that we keep things in context because we're still five points off the play-offs."

Sunderland's fine recent collective form has mirrored Ward's impressive personal performances since he claimed the goalkeeping jersey from Ben Alnwick in mid-October.

The 32-year-old Wales international has been the Black Cats' most eye-catching performer under Keane, although he is far too experienced to allow his current successes to take his eye off the ball.

"It's gone great for me," said Ward. "I've made a couple of good saves that seem to have been highlighted and I keep saying to the lads, 'This is how I play - get used to it'.

"I don't think they believe me - they've been giving me a bit of stick about it - and we all know that if you get carried away in this game, there'll be a setback just around the corner.

"I'm prepared to accept the accolades now, but that means I'll also have to be prepared to accept the criticism when it inevitably comes along."

* Sunderland's youth side take on Preston in the third round of the FA Youth Cup at the Stadium of Light this evening (7pm). Entry is £3 for adults and £1 for concessions.

l Sunderland's home game with Derby has been put back two days to allow television coverage. The game, which was due to be played at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, February 24, will now take place on Monday, February 26 (7.45pm)