Source: Team_Talk
Bruce worried over derby damage
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits he may never be able to repair the damage of the derby humiliation at Newcastle in the eyes of some fans. The 49-year-old was clearly shocked by last Sunday's 5-1 drubbing at St James' Park and has spent the days since trying to come to terms with the heaviest defeat the Black Cats have suffered at the hands of their nearest neighbours in more than half a century.He has challenged his players to produce a response on Saturday when Stoke visit the Stadium of Light, but is well aware that even that may not placate his fiercest critics.Bruce said: "Make no mistake, of course we have talked about it and we have analysed it and we have worked hard again on it, and the players are as deeply upset and disappointed as anybody associated with Sunderland is, and rightly so in the manner of it."The one thing we have got to do is try to repair it. In some eyes, it might take weeks, some people months, some people years, some people never."We will never be able to repair it in some people's eyes, which we have to live with, and I can understand that."But the one thing we need is a response and to make sure it doesn't derail our season, that's vitally important."I think it is 72 days until we play them again, not that I am counting."That return fixture on Sunday, January 16, has already been marked by Sunderland fans as the day when a monstrous wrong must be righted.However, while Bruce is acutely aware of the significance of a black day at St James', he insists it cannot be allowed to destroy what had previously looked like a solid start to the Barclays Premier League campaign, or cast a shadow over the remaining 28 games.He said: "We all know who it was against and we will all have to live with it for a very long time."It was an awful, awful weekend, but as a manager, where you earn your money is when all around you is chaos."You have to stay strong and stay with it and that's the mark. If you are going to get on in management, you have got to put up with horror shows like the weekend."It was arguably, in my 30 years involved in the game, the worst result I have ever had in the context of it."How do we respond and how do we come out and get a result against Stoke? That's what we are looking for, a response to try to repair some of the damage we have caused."The reverse at Newcastle was all the more unexpected as it arrived in the wake of home victories over Manchester City and Aston Villa either side of five successive draws, three of them against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.Bruce said: "In hindsight, which is a wonderful thing, maybe I should have plumped for a bit more experience and not given the young lads a chance."But the way the team had been playing against Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa the week before, a top-six team, why would I?"I left it alone, but there you go. All of those young players will learn from it."In adversity - and by God, it was - I am sure they will learn from that occasion and be better for it."Bruce has already confirmed that record signing Asamoah Gyan will make his first Premier League start against the Potters, although his plans have been disrupted by a bout of flu which has swept through the dressing room in recent days.