Bruce eyes improvement

Sunderland boss looks to build on Arsenal win and avoid slip-up

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 26th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bruce eyes improvement

Bruce: Looking to build on Arsenal win

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Steve Bruce believes he will be able to gauge how far his Sunderland side have come against Wigan on Saturday.

The Sunderland manager takes his team to his former club at the weekend looking to build on their 1-0 success over Arsenal last time out.

The Black Cats have had no problem competing with the top teams in the Premier League having beaten Liverpool earlier in the season and coming within seconds of defeating Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.

However Sunderland have repeatedly slipped up against the so-called lesser teams. Following the 1-0 triumph over Liverpool, Bruce's men immediately fell 2-1 at Birmingham while defeats to Burnley and Stoke have also marred what has been a good start to the season.

"It's them sort of games that we have let ourselves down over the last three or four months," Bruce told Sky Sports News.

"I have been delighted with the vast majority of the performances with which we have played but it's pointless beating Arsenal if you can't go to Wigan, and no disrespect to Wigan, and not get something from the game.

"We must improve that side of us and I am quietly confident we can do that."

Leading scorer Darren Bent is a doubt for the clash at the DW Stadium with a hamstring problem and Bruce admits that the striker must prove his fitness if he is to be selected.

"The scans are very, very good," he added.

"We don't think it is as bad as first feared. He is going to have a little go tomorrow and see how it is.

"He has been working really hard today and he has had no reaction and if he has no reaction from what he has done today then he might be in with a chance for Saturday."