Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been rewarded with a new contract by Sunderland, after guiding them into the top six of the EPL in recent months.

The Black Cats form has tailed off in recent weeks but Bruce secured the deal because of the excellent season his side have had, despite a run of injuries which might have defeated lesser sides.

Sunderland have lost their last four EPL games and now lie eighth in the table, with Bruce describing their 2-0 defeat at Everton last Saturday – the first since his new deal was announced – as “nowhere near resilient or competitive enough.”

He added: “People aren’t playing anything like they were five or six weeks ago. We knew at the start of the season that February and March would be difficult. But we have to dust ourselves down and get on with it.”

After signing his new deal, which keeps him at the Stadium of Light until 2014, the 59-year-old Wearsiders’ supremo said: “I’m delighted. It’s a magnificent club from top to bottom.

“The club has wonderful support and everything is in place here for a manager.”

Chairman Niall Quinn added: “It is hugely important to bring stability to this football club and I firmly believe that in Steve we have the man to do just that.

“He has instilled a belief in everyone that we can achieve sustained success.”

Sunderland have a daunting task this coming Saturday as they try to stop their run of defeats away to title challengers Arsenal.