Sunderland manager Roy Keane has dismissed claims he planned to walk out on the club in protest at the behaviour of a minority of the club's supporters.

Keane, 37, received abuse from a small section of fans at Tuesday's Carling Cup win over Northampton but maintains his future lies with Sunderland.

"I'm very much focused on the job I've come here to do and I stick by what I said," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"But we just can't tolerate people making their way down to the dug-out."

One of the few players to emerge with credit from Tuesday's victory was striker Anthony Stokes, whose brace helped the Black Cats stutter into the fourth round.

Stokes, 20, has struggled to impose himself on the first-team picture this season and Keane admitted Tuesday's performance would not necessarily sway his team selection for Saturday's trip to Aston Villa.

"He's a young lad who's learning his trade, he's probably not had a fair run of games and I can't guarantee that coming up," said Keane.

"He's got a lot of talent, but we all know that talent plays a small part in it, and we got a glimpse of that the other night.

"He's kept his head down and got his rewards the other night - does that guarantee him a game against Villa? No it doesn't."