Double blow for Bruce

Mon, 07 Dec 21:31:20 2009

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is facing a fresh selection headache after suffering a double suspension blow.

Full-backs Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson both picked up fifth bookings of the season in the 1-0 defeat at Fulham and will miss bottom side Portsmouth's visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

With the club currently assessing the ankle injury defender Anton Ferdinand picked up at Craven Cottage, John Mensah struggling with a persistent calf problem, Lee Cattermole still fighting his way back from medial ligament damage and keeper Craig Gordon out for three months with a broken arm, Bruce finds himself with limited options once again.

Striker Kenwyne Jones returned from a three-match ban at Fulham, while Richardson, who was sent off at former club Manchester United on October 3, skipper Lorik Cana and central defender Michael Turner have also already served suspensions.

Bruce could have done without further disruption as he attempts to bounce back from successive away defeats at Wigan and Fulham, his side's fifth and sixth in eight attempts so far this season.

The Black Cats slipped to 10th place in the Barclays Premier League table as a result, and will hope to return to winning ways as Pompey and Aston Villa visit Wearside in quick succession.

 

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Malcy, yes you did. These are from a year ago and­ apart from the fact I can remember it, there is no way­ that they are not your comments.
    If they didn't­ have your name against them I would have known long­ before I finished reading them that it was you.

    From JONNY, on Sat 27 Nov 4:19

  2. Being cloned from the past now !!!!! Joeseph i didnt­ write them!!!!!

    From MALCOLM D, on Sat 27 Nov 2:47

  3. Hey Jonny doesnt detract from what I said and oh just­ seen another comment , who is DA SALVE , Tim is more­ than a mackem from heaven !!!

    From joseph, on Sat 27 Nov 2:15

  4. Whoops , still doesnt detract from what I said

    From joseph, on Sat 27 Nov 2:12
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    JOSEPH, look at the dates, those comments are a year­ old!!!!

    From JONNY, on Fri 26 Nov 22:50

  6. Hey Jonny, after less than a week on these boards, no­ wonder you tried to chase me, Malcolm D (who criticised­ me) yet comes up with (critisisum) and Tim (nice­ but dim) are mackems from heaven for you!!!

    From joseph, on Fri 26 Nov 2:53

  7. JONNY, back to the derby games next season? I'm­ not sure Middlesbrough will win promotion this season.

    From PoppyTee, on Fri 26 Nov 0:06

  8. feedback on a players performance isnt slagging off,­ its called postive critisisum. Something you dont do by­ your comments directed at me. Our belief at the­ begining of the season is still there, just because we­ have had a bit of a bad run lately. Answer this­ honestly if you can ?? where would you be in the Epl­ with the players you have in your squad ??? what would­ have been the scorleine with your team against Man­ utd , Liverpool and Aresenal??? okay you have had­ some reasonable results of late but will they continue­ when the bad weather comes and you pick up a few more­ suspensions K Nolan is going to be a big miss to your­ squad as you dont have much quality to take his­ place??? conentrate on your team and not ours ours are­ fine and we are stil going to finsih mid to top of­ the table. And yes you have your derbys to look forward­ to Middlesboro?????

    From MALCOLM D, on Wed 9 Dec 3:42

  9. feedback on a players performance isnt slagging off,­ its called postive critisisum. Something you dont do by­ your comments directed at me. Our belief at the­ begining of the season is still there, just because we­ have had a bit of a bad run lately. Answer this­ honestly if you can ?? where would you be in the Epl­ with the players you have in your squad ??? what would­ have been the scorleine with your team against Man­ utd , Liverpool and Aresenal??? okay you have had­ some reasonable results of late but will they continue­ when the bad weather comes and you pick up a few more­ suspensions K Nolan is going to be a big miss to your­ squad as you dont have much quality to take his­ place??? conentrate on your team and not ours ours are­ fine and we are stil going to finsih mid to top of­ the table. And yes you have your derbys to look forward­ to---------Middlesboro?????

    From MALCOLM D, on Wed 9 Dec 3:42
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    cameron w, I think all that crack at the start of the­ season about them challenging for a champions league­ spot wasn't banter after all, it looks like they­ really believed it.
    Well back to the drawing board, and­ the derby games next season.

    From JONNY, on Wed 9 Dec 2:32
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hey John,
    the natives are getting restless, and­ we're not even halfway through the season!!!!

    From cameron, on Wed 9 Dec 2:15

  12. totally agree clare we need to have a settled back four

    From C, on Tue 8 Dec 20:25

  13. we need to start to pick up pionts away from home or we­ are going to be back in the fight to stay up .wish­ steve would stop messing with the back four

    From clarerobson, on Tue 8 Dec 7:05
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    MALCOLM D, are you still slagging off your own players,­ is any of them safe?

    From JONNY, on Tue 8 Dec 5:23

  15. I dont think K Richardson will be that much of a miss.­ His recent form in my opinion is not good enough to be­ in the team nor is his goal scoring record. Start­ looking over your shoulder mate there are youngsters­ ready to step into your shoes and they cant do any­ worse than you !!!!!

    From MALCOLM D, on Tue 8 Dec 0:16
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