Source: Eurosport
Bruce aims to maintain home form
Steve Bruce wants the Sunderland supporters to ensure the Stadium of Light remains a "fortress" as they attempt to maintain their impressive home form - but insists beach balls are an optional extra.[LNB]The Black Cats are aiming for their fifth consecutive home win in the Barclays Premier League when West Ham visit Wearside on Saturday afternoon. Bruce's side have lost just once in the league at the Stadium of Light - a 3-1 defeat by Chelsea in their first home game - and since then have produced an impressive string of results, culminating in the recent well-deserved 1-0 victory over Liverpool in which Darren Bent's winning goal deflected off a Reds beach ball.[LNB]Last weekend's loss at Birmingham baffled Bruce but the Sunderland boss, whose side lost on penalties to Aston Villa in the Carling Cup in midweek, admits he has been delighted with the performances on home turf.[LNB]He said: "Our home form has been good apart from Chelsea and in my mind we didn't lose to Villa, so effectively Chelsea are the only team that have come here and beaten us going into November. That's a far healthier start than it was last year so we must keep that home form going. The crowd can play their part."[LNB]Bruce, who took over from Ricky Sbragia in the summer after the Black Cats narrowly escaped relegation, added: "We had to change the home form because last year it was appalling, we didn't win anywhere near enough games and that's why you struggle. So it was important that the Stadium of Light became a bit of a fortress, if you like.[LNB]"It's a good return so far and I hope the next five or six are going to be exactly the same. If they want to bring beach balls, as long as they bring their voices and their rattles (as well) then fantastic!"
