Source: PA
Bruce has reasons to be cheerful
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has urged his players to bounce back from their mauling at Manchester United to set up an exciting conclusion to the season.
A depleted Black Cats side went down 2-0 at Old Trafford as United maintained their place at the top of the Barclays Premier League table, although the margin of victory did not start to tell the story of the home side's dominance.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men won at a canter as injuries, suspension and ineligibility cut a swathe through opposite number Bruce's resources.
It is testament to the character of the men the former United defender was able to field that they did not leave the red half of Manchester on the wrong end of a drubbing.
However, seventh-placed Sunderland have an early opportunity to make amends from what was only their fourth league defeat of the season when Blackpool head for the Stadium of Light.
He said: "Now the defining part of the season is upon us. We have got back-to-back home games against Blackpool and Blackburn - can we go and win them both? If we can, then we have got an exciting Spring to look forward to."
