But that wasn't fazing Roy Keane who knew that - disappointing though that fact might have been - things could have been a whole lot worse.

"We know it's an area we have to improve on, and we have been close on a couple of occasions to getting something," he said.

"But Birmingham took a point off Liverpool and Reading took a point off Manchester United, and those two sides have gone down this season, so it doesn't count for everything.

"The fact is, our results against the top teams were never going to be decisive.

"What has kept us in the Premiership this season is our results against the teams around us.

"We took four points off Derby County, four off Fulham, four off Birmingham City, and so on, and that was what counted in the long run."

Keane is now intent on a summer of rebuilding, which he hopes will ward off any relegation battle next season - although he does intend to take a little 'chill' time before that process begins.

"I want to step back a little this summer," he said. "I wasted a lot of time and energy last time around.

"It was very tough for us last summer, and we have to expect it to be the same this time too.

"But this time I have to identify the players, and just let the chairman and chief executive do their bit.

"I can't really get away from everything because I've got young children and responsibilities, but I want to try and switch off for a while.

"I'm due a meeting with Niall Quinn and Peter Walker on Monday, so we'll have a better idea of what we have and how many players we can afford to buy.

"But everyone's chasing quality players, and I think it's going to get harder for all of us.

"The Arsenal manager is in the same boat as me - there's not a lot of quality players available.

"The way things are, we know we want players to improve the team - they don't have to be world superstars - just better than what we've got.

"We are 15th in the table, and I think that's about right - we probably are the 15th best team.

"That's why I always felt deep down we would be fine, but you still need the points on the board.

"As long as we improve on 15th next season, then that would be something.

"We're told teams that stay up in the first year can struggle in the second, so we're taking nothing for granted.

"We have big challenges ahead, but we have to look to improve the squad - we are close to the teams above us, but not close enough yet."

Though he knows Sunderland has a long way to go before it can begin challenging the upper reaches of the table, he was reasonably pleased with the way his revamped side tested Arsenal yesterday.

He said: "I thought we played some good stuff.

"I generally quite enjoyed the game and we carved out some good chances.

"Players coming back into the team played well - Carlos Edwards, Dwight Yorke, Ross Wallace - but at the end of the day we lost the game, so we can't be too happy.

"We had chances, but you have to take your chances when they come along, especially against the top teams.

"I rested Craig Gordon because I just fancied giving Marton Fulop a game.

"It has been a frustrating time for him because I know how much he wants to play first-team games.

"Having said that, I didn't put him in just for sympathy - he's a top class goalkeeper. I knew he wouldn't let us down and he didn't."