Bruce: We must finish above Newcastle

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has revealed that one of his main aims at the club is to finish above local rivals Newcastle United every season.

Bruce’s side, who face Alan Pardew’s men on Saturday, lost 5-1 to the Magpies at St James’ Park last season before drawing 1-1 at the Stadium of Light.

“The big thing for me is that we finished above them for the third time in a row, which hasn’t happened for a long, long time, and our aim is to finish on top of them again,” the Black Cats boss said.

“As long as I am the Sunderland manager, the one thing I want to do is finish above them, and I am sure Alan Pardew is the same. It helps if you win a derby, of course it does, but it’s not the be all and end all – but I know to some supporters, it is.”

“No matter where you finish, ‘as long as you beat Newcastle…’ will be some people’s take on it. It certainly isn’t mine.”

Bruce also spoke of his side’s 5-1 defeat to Newcastle last season, a scoreline he says he does not want to be repeated for the rest of his career.

“It [the 5-1] was probably the worst result I have ever had in 30 years in the game, I can’t really remember a humiliation like that,” he added.

“But you learn from the experience and handle it and try to come out fighting, and two weeks later, you have your best result when we beat Chelsea 3-0.”

And while Bruce admits his players struggled under the pressure of the occasion in the last campaign, he does not envisage a similar scenario this year.

“A lot of them have handled the situation before, people like John O’Shea and Wes Brown, it’s not going to faze them for a start,” Bruce added.

“They have played in big games, European Cup finals, so they will handle the occasion, not a problem.”