BRUCE CRITICISES SCHEDULE

Steve Bruce has criticised the Premier league schedule as being ridiculous. Nedum Onuoha, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan were all injured in the Black Cats’ 2-0 home defeat by Blackpool. Bruce says it is “nonsense” that his players should face five games in eight days and he now wants a winter break. “Every country in Europe does it,” he said. “We should be taking a break too, there should be a break here.” Bruce’s sentiments were echoed on Tuesday by West Ham manager Avram Grant following his side’s 1-1 draw against Everton. Read more »

BRUCE PLEASED WITH DRAW

Steve Bruce has said that he is happy with Sunderland’s draw with Fulham. Bruce took on his former Manchester United team-mate Mark Hughes, but neither boss could mastermind a win amid a dire stalemate of few chances. The Black Cats, who have won just once away from home this season, move up to sixth in the Premier League with the point and Bruce is embracing the positives. “I think you’re always delighted to pick up a point away from home and I couldn’t fault the effort and determination, considering the changes we had to make defensively,” he told Sky Sports. Read more »

SUNDERLAND DEFEATED

A poor Sunderland side were defeated against an impressive Wolves side. It spared the Wolves chairman the embarrassment of calling McCarthy to account only days after allowing the chief executive Jez Moxey to respond to unhappy fans by reaffirming their backing for their under-fire employee. Read more »