Bent´s exit not to blame: Bruce

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has dismissed suggestions his side’s recent poor form is due to Darren Bent’s exit.

Bent left the Black Cats in the January transfer window to join Aston Villa for a fee that could rise to 24 million pounds.

Since his departure Sunderland have struggled, losing their past two matches, at home to Chelsea and away at Stoke on Saturday.

Bruce, however, has shrugged off claims that Bent’s absence was to blame for the defeats, choosing instead to highlight his side’s defensive shortcomings.

Sunderland conceded seven goals in those two losses, and when Bruce was asked whether his side’s leading scorer last season was being missed, he said: “If we couldn’t score a goal, I might agree with you.”

“But since Darren has left, we’ve scored six goals – two in the win at Blackpool, two against Chelsea and then two on Saturday.”

“The fact we couldn’t head the ball out of our box had nothing to do with Darren Bent.”

“Darren Bent is history as far as I am concerned, life goes on and we have to get on with it.”

“I’m delighted with the two additions I was able to make to the squad (Sulley Muntari and Stephane Sessegnon) and it will be up to me to find a new Darren Bent in the summer.”

“Thankfully, the forward end of the pitch doesn’t look a problem for us at the moment.”

“We’ve prided ourselves on the way we have defended this season, but if you don’t defend properly this is what happens.”

“We gave bad goals away against Chelsea and we did it again on Saturday, and that is what has cost us.”

Bruce was furious after seeing his side somehow lose a game they thought they were sure to win, with Stoke scoring all three of their goals from set-pieces.

“There are pretty simple instructions. You’ve got to be prepared to go and take a knock, you’ve got to go and dominate your penalty area. We didn’t do that,” he said.

“Also, you need the officials to be brave as well. I’m sorry, the two of them (Stoke’s first two goals) shouldn’t have been allowed. They were offside.”

“But the goalkeeper and my defenders should be doing better and either head it, or catch it – that’s what their job is.”