Break from the league offers hope of recovery

Jan 23 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SUNDERLAND need a win at Portsmouth to exorcise the demons from their nightmare at Chelsea. Chief sports writer Luke Edwards gives his thoughts on what is a pivotal game for Steve Bruce.

STEVE Bruce would love Sunderland to do well in the FA Cup this season, particularly as he has never reached the latter stages of the competition as a manager. It is a blot on his managerial CV, but it is the black mark against his name following the 7-2 defeat at Chelsea which worries him more.

Bruce has never been on the receiving end of such a comprehensive thrashing. He has never been so badly beaten as a manager or a player, so humiliated and so embarrassed after 90 minutes of football as he was after that horror show at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

After such an excellent start to the season, Sunderland had looked like serious contenders for a European place, but where there was so much pride in the autumn there has since been an almighty fall.

The Black Cats did not so much fall flat on their faces in west London as repeatedly slammed into the floor. Sunderland have had more than their fair share of injuries to contend with in recent weeks, but there was more than just players missing against Chelsea. There was a lack of organisation and a lack of heart and Bruce is ashamed to admit it.

“If you weren’t grumpy after Chelsea .... It was the biggest hiding I’ve ever had and it takes time to get over it and recover,” said Bruce, who is aiming to make at least one more signing following the arrival of Matthew Kilgallon before the close of the transfer window.

“It was a master class from Chelsea but we were sadly lacking. As a manager I took it personally. I’ve had to lift myself and take a few people with me. We want to erase the debacle last week and we want a response. We will never forget it, that’s for sure, but we have to get a huge response at Portsmouth.

“For all of the great times you have in your career, it is the bad ones you always remember.

“It takes a lot of getting over, but as in life, it is how you respond to things in football that are the true test.”

After a run of just two wins in 14 games – one of which came at home to Blue Square Conference side Barrow in the previous round of the FA Cup – Sunderland’s season is unravelling.