Overreaction was embarrassing says Steve Bruce
Nov 2 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
AN angry Steve Bruce told Herita Ilunga he should have been “embarrassed” by his part in Kenwyne Jones’ red card.
The striker was dismissed for shoving the left-back in a heated incident in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Jones’ punishment was deserved, but Ilunga did himself no credit.
“They need to take a leaf out of a rugby players’ book,” said Sunderland’s manager.
“A rugby player wouldn’t fall over like that, get an ice pack like that, for something as trivial as that was. I’m embarrassed by his (Ilunga’s) actions really and would certainly be embarrassed if it was one of my players.
“He has pushed him but he goes down as if he has been poleaxed. I can’t defend Kenwyne because we know it was stupid. But refs have a difficult enough job without all this carry-on creeping into our game.”
With Lorik Cana also suspended at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Sunderland face a difficult task but Bruce was looking on the bright side.
