Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’
AFTER watching his side create several chances and lose 2-0 to Blackpool at the Stadium of Light, Steve Bruce admitted he had not experienced a day like it in his career. The Black Cats boss watched his side lose at home for the first time this season, despite forcing 33 shots during an extremely open game. Blackpool, on the other hand, had only nine shots in total but DJ Campbell's second- half double made the home side pay for a string of missed chances. Bruce said he could not criticise his side's performance but admitted his frustration at the amount of chances that went begging. I don't think I've ever had a day like that, not at this level, Bruce said. I've never witnessed anything like it. Maybe when I was at school but I think it's 33 attempts we've had. There's nothing I can say, you have witnessed it. We've absolutely hammered them and lost 2-0 and I can't remember ever being involved in a Premier League game when we've had so many chances. They've all fallen to my strikers, who are normally clinical. Welbeck, Gyan, Bent, it's just not our day as simple as that unfortunately. We just have to lick our wounds and get on with it and if we keep playing like that and create as many chances then we'll ultimately win more than we'll lose. I can't criticise anyone, we can criticise the second goal and the first when DJ nips in and scores a goal but overall, dear oh dear it could have quite easily been ten. It's not nice to lose any game but to lose it like that really does baffle you because right from the start we've played well and created chance after chance and after about 30 minutes I thought Is it going to be one of those days.' Then I'm thinking in the second half that surely by the law of averages we must score but there you go. Star striker Darren Bent probably had Sunderland's best chance when he rattled the cross bar with a curling free-kick and although his run without a goal continues, Bruce insists he is not worried by the his form. Darren Bent has had a wonderful 18 months for us, Bruce said. There's going to be time when a goalscorer goes through it but, as they say, class is permanent. He's missed a few chances but the good thing for me is that he kept getting in there and if he gets the same amount on Saturday I'm sure he will finish two or three. To add salt to his wounds, Bruce revealed after the game that three off his players were struggling with hamstring injuries and the boss blamed the hectic festive schedule, calling for the Premier League to introduce a winter break. I think that is the biggest concern for me because if you don't speak up, especially as Premier League managers, a footballer can play everyday if you want him to but to ask players to play at Man United then play 48 hours later then this is the result of it. Nedum Onuoha limped off in the first half, as did Asamoah Gyan in the second and Danny Welbeck also finished the game with a strain. All three could be doubtful for the New Year's Day game against Blackburn Rovers. I've got three with hamstrings at the moment. Welbeck, Gyan and Onuoha have all come off with injuries and that's the consequences of playing two games in 48 hours, it's ludicrous. I think we should be taking a break too, every country in Europe does it, you wonder why at international level our players don't perform, they're goosed, because of the Premier League and the demands of it and that's the consequences which could affect us now for the next two or three games.