Hard work ahead for Bruce

// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Steve Bruce is refusing to get caught up in the hype surrounding Sunderland's impressive progress this season. The Black Cats can boast a healthy tally of 17 points from their 11 Premier League fixtures so far, seeing them comfortably into the top half of the table.A number of eye-catching displays have drawn widespread acclaim, while a battling 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday showcased their new-found resilience.Bruce admits he is pleased at the way the 2009/10 campaign is shaping up for his side, but has warned that there is a long way to go before the club can claim to have achieved their goals."The campaign is a long one and it's not just going to happen where we turn ourselves into European contenders overnight - this club has only been two years out of the Championship," Bruce told the club's official website."There's still a lot of work and a lot of improvement to do until we get to a point where we can say it's a blip if we play poorly.Platform"We have got to look at it this way - can we do the same over the next 11 games? Can we pick up another 17 points?"If we do that, we will have a decent platform for a decent season."Bruce is also aware that the foundations for a successful season are often built on home soil, and he has called upon his Black Cats to ensure that the Stadium of Light remains a fortress this term.He said: "The most important thing is doing it in front of our own fans, and that's what we knew we needed to do this year."People were telling me the best performances last season were away from home, but now I think the fans have realised there's been an improvement and they can understand and enjoy what we are trying to do on the pitch."The players deserve a pat on the back because we have lost once - against Chelsea - and that's a decent return."

Source: SKY_Sports