Bruce Calls On Supporters Trust

Geordie born Steve Bruce still cannot believe how poor his young side were against his boyhood heroes last weekend.

Sunderland failed to cause any problems and allowed their nearest rivals to blast them 5-1 on Halloween. However, Steve Bruce has urged all Mackems to move on from the sadness of that result and focus on Stoke on Saturday at the Stadium of Light.

Bruce said: 'There's some fans out there that will never forgive, and having been born in the area, I can understand where they're coming from,' he told Sky Sports News.

'But what I'll say for the team is that they need them. They need the help and support.

'We've only lost three times in 18 months at the Stadium of Light. We've got a fantastic record here and we must maintain that and stay positive.

'It was only a week ago that we were getting plaudits from everywhere, so we mustn't let last Sunday derail our season.

'Let's start off by having a good result against Stoke.'

Bruce knows his team can get the result needed before a tough couple of away games in London on the horizon.

Bruce added: 'I'm always a big believer that you batten down the hatches, and stay dignified if you possibly can,' he said. 'You've got to come out fighting.

'It's hurt, absolutely. If anybody else is hurting as badly as me then I know how they feel.

'It wasn't easy to put up with and I'll have to live with that, it's possibly the worst beating I've had in my career, because of where it was and what was at stake.

'I've never been blessed with any real ability but I've always had something inside me that says you have to go again.

'That's what we've done this week and it's now where I earn my money - I think management's easy when you're going along nicely.

'We've had a horrible few days but we've got to draw a line under it and go again.'

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