Bruce learns lesson from slump

Black Cats chief confident of turnaround

Last updated: 8th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bruce learns lesson from slump

Bruce: Remaining optimistic

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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce believes he will become a better manager for the experience of his side's current struggles.

The Black Cats stretched their winless run to 11 games after Saturday's draw with Wigan at the Stadium of Light.

After a bright start to the campaign Sunderland find themselves nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone and Bruce has found himself under fire from sections of the Black Cats fans.

Bruce is ready to fight his way out of trouble and he feels he will benefit from the experience in the long run.

"When you come through it, it makes you better because you learn from it," noted Bruce.

"Nobody likes it, nobody enjoys it, you would be lying if you said you enjoyed it. But certainly you learn from it and you take it on with you.

"I have worked hard all my life and I will try to work as hard as I can to pull us around.

"I am the same one who came in six months ago, nothing has changed in that respect.

"There's no hiding place from it, we have just got to get a result, it's as simple as that."

Carried away

Bruce is refusing to panic as he prepares for Tuesday's trip to basement boys Portsmouth and is confident Sunderland will scrap their way out of trouble at the wrong end of the table.

"I always knew it was never going to be easy. We had a wonderful start and everybody, including maybe myself, got a little bit carried away," added Bruce.

"The one thing is, I have got broad shoulders. I have been in it a long time and if they want to use that stick, then fine, I have got no problem with it.

"What I would say to all the supporters - I have just seen we have sold over 1,000 tickets for tomorrow, which is quite incredible - is I am still enjoying the challenge.

"We will come through it. There's no problem."