Bruce can't make a case for defence

Feb 6 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“We have scored goals and created chances, but we have never been able to keep a clean sheet.

“Defensively, we have been all over the place at times. I still have that Chelsea game etched in my mind – every time Chelsea got the ball, I thought they were going to score. We simply could not cope, but we had big players missing.

“When people like Turner, Mensah and Cattermole are playing, we are a different team.

“In the summer, I strengthened the spine of the side, but that has been taken away from us.”

Injuries have been a familiar complaint this season and, while Sunderland are hardly at full-strength this afternoon, most of their pivotal players are back and available.

The loss of the combative Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana in the centre of midfield hurt Sunderland deeply, but that pairing has been reunited over the last two games.