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.

The Black Cats are not on the critical list just yet and Bruce’s first choice XI should be good enough to comfortably finish in the top half of the table, but the slump has seen hopes of a Euro Cup challenge replaced by a nagging fear of yet another relegation battle. Sunderland are just four points better off than Hull City, who are third from bottom, and should their miserable run of form continue it will not be much longer until they are fighting for their lives once more.

That was never supposed to happen under Bruce.

We may have wanted too much, too soon as far as a top eight finish is concerned and Bruce’s position is under no threat because chairman Niall Quinn is sensible enough to realise meaningful change does not happen overnight, but the last couple of months have been painful for everyone concerned. Sunderland have already been to Portugal for a training break to try to lift the depression, but it is a break from the Premier League which perhaps offers them the best chance of a recovery. “The away form has been pretty awful all season and it’s not going to be easy, but it’s a chance to get a result and stay in the cup,” said Bruce, who has enjoyed far more success as a player in the FA Cup than he has as a manger. “I’ve got the utmost respect for the FA Cup.

“The FA Cup is a great competition. I watched Aston Villa in the Carling Cup in the week and people talk about clubs not taking it seriously, but their fans were delighted they have got to Wembley.

“The cup can lift your season and we need that. We need to kick-start our season again.

“We’ve had a few injuries, we’ve lost our key players and we haven’t been able to cope, but they’re coming back now. That will make a difference and we’re still trying to bring one or two players to the club before the close of the window.”

Craig Gordon, Kieran Richardson, Michael Turner, Andy Reid and possibly Lee Cattermole will return to the side at Fratton Park and Bruce will take no prisoners in his pre-match team talk.

He added: “The travelling supporters are incredible and they dig deep to support their team. The players were as disappointed as they were, but we were outclassed in every department last weekend. This is a chance to make amends. We have to try and reward them with a performance.

“I’ve not really had a cup run as a manager, I’ve always got one of the Big Four early on and that was that.

“When I was at Birmingham I lost in the quarter-final to Sunderland who lost to Millwall in the semis.

“It is something great and I’d love one this season.

“Firstly, though, we want a result and a performance to get us going again this season.”