Sunderland manager Steve Bruce had mixed feelings in the wake of his side’s 0-0 draw against his former club Manchester United at the Stadium of Light last Saturday.

He declared himself “delighted” at the Black Cats’ display, especially in a first-half where they made Sir Alex Ferguson’s men look ordinary.

But his delight was tempered by his feeling that he might not get another chance like that to beat his former boss, whom he has been unable to better in 16 attempts as a manager.

 

He said: “We came close to beating them last year but I don’t know now, it may never happen.” But a generally upbeat Bruce added: “I was delighted with the way we played and we just needed a break.”

£13m transfer deadline day signing Asamoah Gyan has been unable to nail down a starting berth alongside England striker Darren Bent, who has scored seven of Sunderland’s nine goals this season.

But the 24-year-old Ghana World Cup star admitted that his new manager “knows what he is doing” by using him as a substitute. Gyan told the BBC:

“(He) has seen that my fitness levels are not up to standard. We’ve played big games with (one striker) and things are going well for the coach.”

But Gyan, who scored on his Black Cats debut at Wigan, added: “I’m getting used to it, I’m getting back my fitness levels.”

Sunderland visit Blackburn Rovers for the first Monday night televised fixture after the international break, on October 18^th.