Bruce sets out Sunderland survival plan

Steve Bruce has fined midfielder Steed Malbranque two weeks' wages after he broke a curfew in a nightclub - as he cracks down on discipline ahead of Sunderland’s relegation battle.

The French midfielder was spotted out late in the week leading up to Sunderland’s bore draw with Fulham, but Bruce has held clear the air talks and told the winger he still has a key role tonight.

Bruce launched a passionate defence of his faltering reign yesterday as it emerged US tycoon and club owner Ellis Short will be at the Stadium of Light tonight to watch the crucial game with Bolton. He will also meet with Bruce on Wednesday for routine talks.

The Geordie boss says he “never" wants his teams to play long ball football that marred the Fulham clash, has set a minimum target of 38 points to avoid relegation, and says he “couldn’t have a better owner" to work for.

Sunderland have not won in 14 matches since November, and Bruce surveyed the problems that has caused and said it is “crazy" not to have got a victory for the entire winter.

On quiet-man Malbranque he said: “He knows what has happened. He has taken his punishment. The matter is closed. It remains confidential. It is dealt with, and he is in the squad.

“It is finished. We need players like him to stand up and be counted. He has experience and he should be able to handle it with his talent.”

Sunderland still have injury problems with Lee Cattermole, Kieran Richardson, Jordan Henderson and Andy Reid out, but Bruce says there are no excuses.

Businessman Short is unlikely to be happy having spent £30million in the summer to avoid this sort of end of season scramble and Bruce said: “You hope you get time to do the job and of course it will get ticklish.

“Not winning for three months... I wouldn’t have thought that possible back then. But you look to the chairman, the influence he has had, and the owner, who has been very very supportive, in a very short period of time.

“The owner will be at the game against Bolton. We have personal contact. I will see him on Wednesday. We are all upset at it. Football is football. I have never been on a run when I’ve not got a result in winter. It is staggering.

“I am glad the owner is coming. There is no trepidation that he is coming. What the owner has done in the last 12 months is nothing short of incredible. We all want an owner like I have got.

“It has not been easy for any of us. When in a bad run you need support. I have to give the owner something to shout about. Eventually I will reward him and give him the team he wants. He has only been in a year. He was one of the reasons I came here.

“I will never be complacent. I knew it was a difficult challenge. They finished fifth bottom twice. We will eventually get there. It will take time. Whoever sits in this seat will need time.”

Bruce’s side are three points off the drop zone. He has “picked the brains" of Villa boss Matrin O’Neill about his fruitful rebuilding under Randy Lerner, and he sees similarities.

But first he said: “We all want that magical 40 points. Will 38 be enough? Last year 35 was enough. This year I am hoping 38 is enough.

“I would be lying if I said I was not looking at the other results, even with 12 games left. We have lost one in five but it doesn’t have a ring because we can’t get the victory. Draws have kept us ticking along.

“I don’t want any of my teams to play like we did at Fulham. We went back to front too quickly. There would be anarchy if I told them to play like that. I want to get the ball down and play. That is my style. I am convinced we will get confidence back and start to pass it.

“We are looking for a bit of creativity. We have to have the confidence to pass the ball. We were far too direct last week. We are crying out for a bit of creativity.”