Bruce can't make a case for defence

Feb 6 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

STEVE Bruce admits Sunderland’s defending this season has given him nightmares.

Bruce spent the January transfer window trying to bring in players to bolster his struggling back four and looks set to give Alan Hutton his debut this afternoon alongside fellow new boy Matthew Kilgallon.

He will hope that will plug some of the gaps which have opened up over the last eight weeks, when Bruce has been forced by injury and suspensions to constantly chop and change his defence.

If, as expected, John Mensah misses out this afternoon, it will leave Sunderland fielding their 15th back-four combination of the season – a clear indication of where the problems lie. Bruce has at least recognised the issue, which came to the fore at Chelsea last month as the rampant Blues ran up a seven-goal haul which could easily have stretched into double figures.

The Sunderland boss says that performance is still “etched” in his mind.

He said: “It has been pretty obvious where our problems have come from – we have had 15 different back fours.