Blues counting cost of Wigan’s Brucie bonus

STEVE BRUCE is as good as certain to be a Premier League manager again next season. His former employers should take note of that, for he might yet achieve it at their expense, and the final cost could run to millions of pounds.

Bruce kept his emotions tightly under wraps after a result which all but banished any lingering Wigan fears of the drop, while leaving struggling Birmingham with plenty still to do.

Given the bitterness Bruce still harbours towards his former employers after his acrimonious departure from St Andrews last November, the Latics boss was well entitled to gloat over this victory.