Source: PA
Bruce defends Big Sam
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has launched a passionate defence of Blackburn counterpart Sam Allardyce amid the ongoing debate over reckless tackling.
The two managers will go head-to-head at Ewood Park on Monday evening with Allardyce's approach having been questioned by Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy, who singled out his team, Wolves and Stoke for criticism over the physical nature of their play.
While the Black Cats boss knows exactly what to expect when he sends his team into battle with Rovers, he insists Allardyce's reputation is unwarranted.
He said: "The reason, I have said repeatedly, the Premier League is like it is is the competitiveness of it.
"If we take it away, we will end up like leagues in France and Spain and Italy where, if I take you to a game, it is just all technique and there is no real physical element.
"It is half the pace our games are at and if we take away that element, we will take away what we have got in this country, which is a fantastic competitive division. I think I speak for Sam and every other manager, none of us want to go and send a team out that will physically hurt anybody else, that is absolute nonsense."
