Source: PA
Bruce sees chance to gain upward momentum
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has challenged his players to take advantage of a kinder Barclays Premier League fixture list in the run-up to Christmas.
By the time the final whistle sounds in their home clash with Everton, the Black Cats will have faced every one of last season's top 10 inside their opening 14 games.
But with Wolves, West Ham, Fulham and Bolton waiting in the wings after the game, Sunderland have an opportunity to develop a solid start into a very promising one indeed.
Bruce said: "We are a quarter of the way in and I have not known anything like it.
"We have got four or five games now which, for me, can define our season.
"We have got something like five games in two weeks over Christmas and we have got teams who, on paper, you think we have got an outstanding chance against."
