Sunderland FC

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• Manager:Steve Bruce

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Relief for under pressure Bruce

10 Mar 2010 - 07:57:36

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Steve Bruce admitted he was delighted to see the back of Sunderland's lengthy winless run following Tuesday's resounding 4-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

The Black Cats had slipped to the fringes of the relegation zone on the back of a 14-game run without a victory.

Darren Bent was the hat-trick hero for the hosts after Fraizer Campbell had opened the scoring with just 45 seconds on the clock as the Wearsiders won in the Premier League for the first time since November.

"It's been close a few times but the win was resounding when it came. It gives everybody a lift after a difficult time.

"I'll certainly learn from it. The players deserved it today as they were excellent from start to finish. We're getting a few back and it shows."

Meanwhile, Bruce has urged England coach Fabio Capello to take 19-goal striker Bent to the World Cup.

"I have had a bad enough time trying to pick a team for the last three months, so I am not going to tell Fabio Capello how to do it because he has been there, worn the T-shirt and done it," explained Bruce.

"All I can say is he must be in his thoughts, he has to be because of his goalscoring exploits.

"For somebody at the very highest level to have the same amount of goals as (Didier) Drogba is quite staggering. Fair play to the kid, I am delighted for him.

"No disrespect to us, but to be at a team in the bottom half of the table and get what he has got, it's fantastic. It is unbelievable with 10 games to go."