Source: PA
Bruce faces up to relegation battle
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits his side are in the thick of a relegation battle after being beaten 2-0 at his former club Birmingham.
Goals from Sebastian Larsson and Craig Gardner lifted City above the injury-hit Black Cats.
They have taken one point from the last nine games after being contenders for a European spot in January.
Bruce said: "There have been a few times recently when I have said the performance has not been good enough. But I could not ask any more from a young, makeshift side here.
"We have to try and take the positives out of this and if we play like that, we can still turn the season around and finish with a flourish.
"We are in it (a relegation battle), no question about it. There are 10 teams in it and we are one of them. The lads know we have not got enough points. We have one point from nine games and we've got to try and arrest that slump."
