Bruce dedicates win to Allardyce

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce dedicated his side’s 3-0 win over Blackburn to good friend and former Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.

Sunderland beat Rovers thanks to goals from Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck, but Bruce said the win was for Allardyce, who was unexpectedly sacked by Blackburn last month.

“I would like to say, that’s for Sam. I spoke to him this morning and the nonsense that went around with his sacking, that was for him,” Bruce said.

“I hope he has a drink in Dubai, where he is at the moment. That was for him.”

“I know he is a pal, but the ludicrous position they have put themselves is quite unbelievable, whoever has taken over there.”

“To sack someone like Sam and then appoint his coach, I find totally and utterly ridiculous, not just because he is a friend.”

“A result like that puts football, for me, the right way.”

Bruce was pleased to see his strikers find their scoring touch this week after wasting a host of chances in their loss to Blackpool on Tuesday, and the manager paid particular tribute to Bent, who broke a six-game scoring drought.

Bruce said: “I am pleased for him because as I have said repeatedly, class is permanent.”

“What he has done over 19, 20 months here, he is still in the calendar year the top English goalscorer in the Premier League, which is a remarkable achievement.”

“Yes, he didn’t score in December, but he will always score a goal. He always had done, always will do.”

“He might miss a few chances, like they all do, but he is terrific.”

Blackburn boss Steve Kean, the man who replaced Allardyce, was disappointed by the loss but said he was not feeling pressured to achieve immediate results.

“It’s going to be a gradual process. The owner has been quoted as saying ‘eventually’ they want to be challenging,” Kean said.

“What we will do in the next transfer window as it opens up is we will try to get a few bodies in because we have nine players who are missing at the minute.”

“We will probably strengthen in almost every area of the pitch to try to help the squad, and that’s what we need.”

“I think it will be a gradual building process, I don’t think at all they are expecting to be challenging for Europe this season.”

Sat 1 January, 2011