Cats have done nothing yet, warns boss Bruce

Oct 22 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

"We have produced very good performances and beaten Liverpool and drawn with Manchester Untied – that is all." ’m not one to get carried away with it.

"I am hearing all these things and that we are going along nicely, but I won’t be taking it for granted because if you do then it will kick you."

Having spent six years as Birmingham manager, Bruce is only too aware of the welcome which awaits buoyant Sunderland when they arrive in the West Midlands on Saturday for Carson Yeung’s first home game since being confirmed as owner.

He recognises a frenetic home support will attempt to put the Black Cats on the back foot, and believes they will need to at least match the level of performance against Liverpool to earn anything from the game.

He added: "It will be difficult. It is always a difficult place to go in front of Birmingham fans, who will be out in their droves to try and push them out of the bottom three.

"This is what the Premier League is all about. We have done well against Manchester United and done well against Liverpool – now we must make sure we go and take something against Birmingham. That is the sign of a good team."

Bruce returns to St Andrew’s for the first time as Black Cats boss insisting the controversy surrounding his departure is now a thing of the past. His time at Birmingham ended in acrimony as he departed for greater job security at Wigan, but insists he has no hard feelings against fans who treated him well.

He said: "I had two years as a player and six years as a manager – it is a big chunk of your career. I was sad at the way it ended, but that is football."