Bruce: Christmas shopping would have been better

WEST LONDON is awash with shoppers as Christmas nears and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admitted shopping would have been more entertaining than watching Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham.

Both sides have become something of drawn specialists, and it showed at Craven Cottage.

At one point in the second-half Sunderland had a four-on-one overlap and a goal appeared certain, but an abysmal pass from Darren Bent ruined the moment.

It was a dismal spectacle that improved a little in a second-half controlled by Fulham, with Clint Dempsey the focal point of their attack.

“It was agony. From start to finish and for both sides it was one of those games when we might have gone Christmas shopping,” said Bruce.

“I couldn’t fault the effort or endeavour and this was probably the youngest side we’ve ever put out in the Premier League.

“But we pride ourselves on keeping the ball better. We had too many players who tried hard, but who were way off it.

“You couldn’t argue with the resilience or effort. We just lack that bit of passing and composure.”

Victory would have lifted Sunderland into fifth place but Bruce is content with his side’s progress.

“You’re always delighted to come away from home with a clean sheet and get a point,” he said.

“However, I’m disappointed because had we played anywhere near where we’re capable of like we’ve been doing for the last few weeks, we might have got three.

“We’re sixth in the Premier League. I can’t be displeased about that.”

On a day which produced few positives, Bruce found a few, and none more so than the return of David Meyler.

Meyler completed his remarkable return to first-team action yesterday, playing for 53 minutes before being replaced by Asamoah Gyan.

The Corkman had been out of action since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last May, and he has astounded medics with the pace of his recovery.

The second-half at Craven Cottage did see a little improvement, with Fulham taking the game to their opponents.

Clint Dempsey was their most influential player but some resolute defending, include a goalline clearance of a Dickson Etuhu header, denied them any reward.

Fulham hover a single point above the relegation zone but manager Mark Hughes is refusing to panic.

“We’re lacking a bit of luck. We had a number of chances, in the second half especially,” said Hughes.

“Sunderland defended really well today, got their bodies on the line for goalbound shots and cleared things off the line.

“On another day those things go in for you. The possession we had should have been illustrated by goals.

“If we’d got that opening goal we had the capacity to go on and win the game comfortably.

“There are a lot of teams down at the bottom. It just takes one win.

“We’re scrambling to get that win that will settle everyone down. There was initially some anxiety in our play.

“In the second half I thought we took the game to them and deserved to win.”

Amid reports of interest from Liverpool and Wolfsburg, manager Mark Hughes stated yesterday that Clint Dempsey would not be sold in the transfer window next month. The USA attacking midfielder was one of the few to light up a dour affair, proving a constant thorn in Sunderland’s side.

Fulham barely mustered an alternative threat, however, and are struggling in the final third with Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele injured.