Bruce: Bent sale not to blame for poor form

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce does not believe Darren Bent’s shock January departure is the reason for the club’s alarming slump in form.

The Black Cats have won just one of the 10 Barclays Premier League games they have contested since the England striker headed for Aston Villa in a £24m transfer, and taken a solitary point from the last nine to slip to within five points of the relegation zone.