Bruce calls for Cats consistency

04 October 2010 13:39
Steve Bruce has urged his Sunderland side to replicate their recent form against the Premier League's lesser lights.[LNB] The Black Cats have faced Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United in their opening seven games and avoided defeat against each of them.[LNB]Although Bruce's men needed a last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal, they might have beaten Liverpool and United and claimed a 1-0 home win against City.[LNB]But their only defeat so far has come at newly-promoted West Brom and Bruce knows Sunderland's positive results against the big boys will count for little if they fail to produce the same performances on a consistent basis.[LNB]"The big test for us will be the games against the lesser sides," said the Black Cats boss.[LNB]"It's a test for the supporters too, who were absolutely magnificent in the backing they gave us against United. We need them like that in every game because it's a big help.[LNB]"As a team, we have a responsibility to make sure we give them something to shout about, give them a display they can get behind. Overall, we've done that so far.[LNB]"The West Brom display is the only one I've been unhappy with. The Birmingham and Wigan games weren't won, I think, because we were reduced to 10 men.[LNB]"But I would happily have taken eight points from the first seven games, given the teams we were playing against."[LNB]Sunderland head into the international break in 11th place and will aim to build on Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to United when they travel to Blackburn for a Monday-night clash on October 18.[LNB]"I've come away from the Manchester United game feeling a little bit disappointed that we haven't won it," Bruce said.[LNB]"But the pleasing thing for me is that after a really tough run of fixtures, we've kept on picking up points.[LNB]"We go into the break in good shape in the table when we could have been down there near the bottom.[LNB]"We are a young side and a naive one at times, but the signs are looking good," he added.[LNB]"You just hope they all come back from the international games OK, but in that respect we're probably helped by the fact that we've got a game on Monday rather than the weekend."

Source: Team_Talk