Performance delights Steve Bruce

Oct 5 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Bruce felt that victory at Old Trafford would have been “something special” and a tangible statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League.

“To come to Old Trafford and win is a bit special. It’s been 40-odd years and we thought we had it,” he said. “It was just a shame that we couldn’t hold on because it would have given everybody at the club such a huge lift. For 50 minutes we came and took them on as well as anybody could do. They are relentless and they take some beating.”

Sunderland’s hopes of victory were undermined by Kieran Richardson’s late sending off for a second bookable offence and Bruce admitted he was unhappy with his defender.

“I have no arguments with it. It’s silly and petulant. We’ve all been there – the red mist descends – but you don’t want that at Old Trafford,” he said. “You know the cavalry is coming and it’s hard enough with 11 men, no matter ten.”