Why Sunderland's dismal away form will herald a massive clear-out, and why Boro can't do anything right

By Brian McNally

Published 08:01 11/12/09

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The public mask of frustration that Steve Bruce wore at Fulham as spineless Sunderland under-achieved yet again on foreign soil was no different to the expression he wears when discussing his side's travel sickness in private.

The contrast between the Black Cats top-six form at the Stadium of Light and their bottom-six form in away games makes a perplexed Bruce go red in the face whether it is standing on the touchline or sitting in the media lounge.

A serial winner at Old Trafford, Bruce has no time for players who shrivel and surrender at away stadia.

What irritates him most is that Sunderland are followed by one of the biggest, most passionate followings in the Premier League or any league in the world for that matter.

After the latest timid surrender at Craven Cottage one fans group, A Love Supreme, gave disappointed Mackems a free tee shirt to make up for their long, disappointing journey.

But the Sunderland boss is determined that there will be no future need for these compensatory hand-outs.

Make no mistake about it Bruce is determined to be ruthless in his search for a cure to the baffling travel sickness. There is no logical reason or excuse in his mind for the contrast of Sunderland's record of 16 points from seven home games to the pitiful four points earned in eight away trips.

Since losing a last-gasp goal to draw 2-2 at Manchester United on October 3, Sunderland have lost four consecutive away games at Birmingham, Spurs, Wigan and Fulham.

Throw in two earlier defeats at Stoke and Burnley and Sunderland have already lost six times on the road.

Last term Sunderland narrowly survived after they won three and drew six of their 19 trips, but their record this term is worse.

Not bloody good enough, fumes Bruce. He doesn't name names but his mood is sufficient to suggest that he is convinced some players are not mentally tough enough for his liking and they will be seeking new employers sooner rather than later.

Bruce accepts that having escaped relegation on the last day of last season by a margin of just two points the rebuilding job and the change of players' attitude may take more than one campaign to achieve.

But there will be a rift of big-name casualties before his second season in charge. Of that I have no doubt.

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This column's premise that Middlesbrough's half-season cards offering a money-back guarantee if Boro won their first four Championship games after Christmas was ill-judged seems to have been borne out by the club pulling the plug on the daft promotion.

As I warned last week alienating your loyal customer base with gimmicks aimed at fairweather fans was a recipe for commercial suicide.

At least the Boro top brass have had the good sense to quickly realise they made a big mistake.

I just hope next May they are not left reflecting that they have made a similar sort of error by sacking Gareth Southgate and bringing in Gordon Strachan in October.

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