Source: Team_Talk
Bruce wants Black Cats response
Steve Bruce has urged Sunderland to put their Liverpool disappointment behind them ahead of Saturday's Premier League showdown with Tottenham.[LNB] The Black Cats lost 3-0 at Anfield last Sunday, but could have been beaten even more comprehensively as the Reds ended their five-game unbeaten run at a canter.[LNB]Bruce is hoping for a major response when Spurs head for the Stadium of Light.[LNB]He said: "The one thing you have to have is eight or nine playing very, very well on the day. Unfortunately for us, we didn't have that.[LNB]"But what you have to do is dust yourselves down and go again. We couldn't have wished for a more difficult one.[LNB]"Spurs are riding high and playing well, and they have got good players. But it's always one of those great games which you look forward to."[LNB]Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko sees no reason why Spurs - who have won each of their last five league games - cannot earn themselves a crack at Europe's elite club competition.[LNB]"The team itself has progressed immensely and we are a much better team compared to last year," said the 28-year-old Russian.[LNB]Like Sunderland, Burnley will be looking to dent their opponents' top-four ambitions when they welcome Manchester City to Turf Moor in tomorrow's late game.[LNB]Steven Caldwell returns to the Clarets squad after a four-month absence with groin and abdominal problems but Stephen Jordan is doubtful with a knee injury.[LNB]Burnley boss Brian Laws has expressed his disappointment that referee Mike Dean will take charge of Manchester United's top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea tomorrow lunchtime.[LNB]Laws is still furious after Dean awarded Blackburn a penalty from which David Dunn scored the winner against his team last Sunday.[LNB]"It's mad," said Laws. "He's been rewarded with this magnificent game - the biggest of the weekend and even the season so far."[LNB]Bolton boss Owen Coyle is adamant he has no concerns over his leaky defence ahead of tomorrow's Reebok Stadium clash with Aston Villa.[LNB]Wanderers have conceded 10 goals in their last four matches, and 20 in their last eight, ensuring their fight to beat the drop is far from over.[LNB]"Let's put this into context, before I arrived at this club we had not managed a clean sheet, but since we have had five," said Coyle, who took up the reins three months ago.[LNB]"Villa will be a tough game, but we're at home, where we've been playing well, as we did for large periods of last week's game (a 4-0 home loss to Manchester United)."[LNB]Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce heads to bottom club Portsmouth tomorrow aiming for his own hat-trick this season.[LNB]With safety almost assured - Rovers are 14 points clear of the relegation zone with six matches remaining - Allardyce gave his players three days off this week.[LNB]"They've had a real good rest since Sunday and our fantastic win at Burnley, and we've come all together now to get ready with almost a fully-fit squad," he said.[LNB]"The reserve team also won 4-0 in midweek, so it gives us a nice, strong squad to choose from as we try and do something we haven't done this season, and that's win three games on the trot in the league."[LNB]Wolves head to Arsenal boosted by an unbeaten four-match run that has seen them collect eight points and move five points clear of the drop zone.[LNB]Manager Mick McCarthy said: "March has been a very good month for us and the eight points we have got have been vital. But we still need more points to stay up."[LNB]Hull boss Iain Dowie is disappointed he cannot name on-loan Ibrahima Sonko in the squad to face his parent club Stoke.[LNB]Dowie turned to forgotten man Sonko last weekend against Fulham and the big centre-back - who had not played top-fight football for more than five months - responded with an impressive performance in a 2-0 win.[LNB]"It's a testament to his professionalism that he's in great shape," said Dowie.[LNB]"In training I felt he showed he was very capable. I talked to him, I told him what I wanted from him and he implemented the gameplan very well.[LNB]"I think he's frustrated because he's got to miss out at Stoke; it frustrates him and it frustrates me."[LNB]Stoke manager Tony Pulis is keen to enjoy a landmark victory at the Britannia Stadium - getting the win against Hull would see the Potters pass the 40-point mark.[LNB]Pulis said: "It will be great to get over 40 points as that is usually seen as the safety target. I will be absolutely delighted.[LNB]"But it will be tough on Saturday. The result against Fulham will have given Hull the confidence they have been looking for."
