http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...ce_warns_sunderland_of_wigan_threat_1_4003037
Bruce warns Sunderland of Wigan threat
STEVE Bruce has warned his Sunderland players that Wigan will not be fazed at being cast adrift at the foot of the Premier League.
Top flight basement boys Wigan head to the Stadium of Light tomorrow five points adrift of safety and without a win since August.
But Bruce insists Sunderland must give his former employers full respect if the Wearsiders are to get the three points which would hoist the Black Cats back into mid-table.
âJust because Wigan are bottom doesnât mean we can take them lightly,â Bruce told the Echo. âTheyâve been in the Premier League for six years now and theyâve developed the experience to handle the pressure situations like these.
âTheyâve been punching above their weight for years and itâs nothing new to them to find themselves near or at the bottom.
âWhen I took over there as manager â at around about the same time of the season â people were saying they were all but relegated but we stayed up quite comfortably and that just demonstrates thereâs a long way to go in the season and still a lot of change to be expected in league positions.
âWigan have a really tough sequence of fixtures coming up after this weekend â so that will give them the perfect incentive to want to do particularly well at our place tomorrow.
âBut this is a game that weâre looking to win, that our fans are looking for us to win and we need to produce the sort of play weâre capable of now to start building up our points base.
âWeâre a bit like Fulham below us in that I think we are better than our league position indicates, but we need to go out there in these next few games and get over the line and get the three points, starting with Wigan tomorrow.
âIâm looking forward to the game because itâs a good opportunity for us and I want the players to go out there and be positive.â
Bruce insists, though, that that licence to attack does not mean Sunderland throwing caution to the wind.
He said: âI was a bit concerned about our last quarter of an hour against Fulham when we lost our shape and discipline throwing absolutely everything at them.
âWe were caught out at the back a couple of times and it could have cost us the point we took from the game.
âThe Wigan game is one we want to and need to win but itâs also important that we donât panic and that we keep our patience.
âItâs completely understandable when the crowd are roaring them on that the players want to get forward constantly and attack but we also need to watch our shape and our discipline. âWe have to get the balance right between being positive and patient this weekend because Wigan wonât make it easy for us and will be out to take something from the game.
âBut as long as we keep our heads, play our best football and have a positive attitude, weâll be fine and will hopefully get the win that lifts everyone.â
Shouldnt he saying to the players "go out there and batter them, Wigan are relagation fodder and god only know how they managed to stay up all this time!"
thats what I would say anyways. maybe too much time playing footy manager
Bruce warns Sunderland of Wigan threat
STEVE Bruce has warned his Sunderland players that Wigan will not be fazed at being cast adrift at the foot of the Premier League.
Top flight basement boys Wigan head to the Stadium of Light tomorrow five points adrift of safety and without a win since August.
But Bruce insists Sunderland must give his former employers full respect if the Wearsiders are to get the three points which would hoist the Black Cats back into mid-table.
âJust because Wigan are bottom doesnât mean we can take them lightly,â Bruce told the Echo. âTheyâve been in the Premier League for six years now and theyâve developed the experience to handle the pressure situations like these.
âTheyâve been punching above their weight for years and itâs nothing new to them to find themselves near or at the bottom.
âWhen I took over there as manager â at around about the same time of the season â people were saying they were all but relegated but we stayed up quite comfortably and that just demonstrates thereâs a long way to go in the season and still a lot of change to be expected in league positions.
âWigan have a really tough sequence of fixtures coming up after this weekend â so that will give them the perfect incentive to want to do particularly well at our place tomorrow.
âBut this is a game that weâre looking to win, that our fans are looking for us to win and we need to produce the sort of play weâre capable of now to start building up our points base.
âWeâre a bit like Fulham below us in that I think we are better than our league position indicates, but we need to go out there in these next few games and get over the line and get the three points, starting with Wigan tomorrow.
âIâm looking forward to the game because itâs a good opportunity for us and I want the players to go out there and be positive.â
Bruce insists, though, that that licence to attack does not mean Sunderland throwing caution to the wind.
He said: âI was a bit concerned about our last quarter of an hour against Fulham when we lost our shape and discipline throwing absolutely everything at them.
âWe were caught out at the back a couple of times and it could have cost us the point we took from the game.
âThe Wigan game is one we want to and need to win but itâs also important that we donât panic and that we keep our patience.
âItâs completely understandable when the crowd are roaring them on that the players want to get forward constantly and attack but we also need to watch our shape and our discipline. âWe have to get the balance right between being positive and patient this weekend because Wigan wonât make it easy for us and will be out to take something from the game.
âBut as long as we keep our heads, play our best football and have a positive attitude, weâll be fine and will hopefully get the win that lifts everyone.â
Shouldnt he saying to the players "go out there and batter them, Wigan are relagation fodder and god only know how they managed to stay up all this time!"
thats what I would say anyways. maybe too much time playing footy manager
