Sunderland boss Roy Keane insists the high challenge by Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton on Dickson Etuhu has been overblown in the media.

"I am not one for jumping up and down on the sidelines when I see a tackle," he told the club's website. "It was high, but he was going to win the ball. The incident has been exaggerated. It is not as though Dickson needed treatment, he was not carried off. He is fine.

"The lad Barton has apologised and as far as I am concerned, it is over with, we move on.

"Maybe everyone made a big issue of it because it was Barton but we seem to be losing that side of it.

"You have to tackle. The ball is there to be won, it is an important part of the game."