Frustrated Steve Bruce blasts SAFC players

Mar 1 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

STEVE Bruce has criticised his Sunderland players for a lack of bravery as he slammed his side for playing aimless long-ball football during a tedious goalless draw with Fulham.

Bruce admits he is finding it difficult having to say the same things after another game without a win, as he once again argued it is the pressure of expectation on Wearside which is his biggest obstacle to overcome.

Sunderland were dreadful against the Cottagers, despite making a bright start to the contest, and did not deserve to snatch a victory which Fraizer Campbell could have sealed when he fired over with just two minutes left.

Bruce said: “I can’t say a lot about that, we need a little break, we need to handle the expectation. Unfortunately we didn’t do that. Defensively I thought we were very sound, but offensively we weren’t.

“It takes a different type of courage to take the ball and play. We didn’t handle the ball well enough.

“We resorted to lumping it up the pitch. We had the best chances in the game. I can’t remember our goalkeeper having a save to make, but we didn’t get it down to pass and play, and my teams have never resorted to lumping it up the pitch. That’s what we resorted to and when you aren’t set up to play like that it becomes a frustration.

“The crowd were magnificent on a horrible Sunday afternoon, but we’ve got to give them something to shout about.

“You’re paid to handle these situations and at the moment we’ve got too many not playing well enough.

“Expectation goes with the territory up here and at the moment we are not handling it well enough.” The draw was enough to keep Sunderland three points clear of the relegation zone, but they have one of the worst form guides in the division and do not play Bolton until Tuesday next week, by which time their position could be a lot worse in the table.