Source: PA
Bruce: We will be all right
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will not bow to the pressure of the toughest spell of his reign to date.
The 49-year-old enjoyed a hugely encouraging start to his tenure on Wearside, amassing 20 Barclays Premier League points from the first 39 on offer - a return which included famous home victories over both Liverpool and Arsenal.
Apart from a frustrating inability to reproduce their home form on the road, a Black Cats side in which new additions Darren Bent, Lee Cattermole, Lorik Cana and Michael Turner were shining was looking set fair for a much improved campaign which, many commentators predicted, could be rewarded with a European flirtation.
However, with injuries and suspensions having decimated Bruce's squad during the ensuing weeks, the last nine league games have brought just three points and seen the club slide to a position which sees them head into Monday's home clash with Stoke in 13th place and only three points clear of the drop zone.
It has proved a testing period for Bruce, although he is convinced his team's fortunes will improve once he has a full squad from which to choose once again.
He said: "It's been the toughest, yes, but it's part and parcel of it. I could make excuses all day long of what the problems are - the simple fact is we need to get people fit. Once we do that and I can get my big players fit, we will be all right. Please believe me, we will be all right."
