Steve Bruce has moved to assure supporters his Sunderland players will not roll over when his former club Manchester United arrive on Wearside hoping to profit from any late slip-up by Chelsea (15/2 Sunderland 18/5 draw 4/11 Man United – match betting).
The west Londoners kick-start a potentially-pivotal day in the race for the Premier League title when they take on Liverpool at Anfield (1/2 Chelsea 6/4 Man United – Premier League outright).
Carlo Ancelotti’s men know nothing but victory will keep alive their hopes of a first domestic crown since 2006.
Bruce’s old employers are chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title – and record 19th domestic success – but must first hope their fiercest rivals down the East Lancs Road lend a helping hand.
Bruce has never managed a side to victory against Sir Alex Ferguson’s team in 14 attempts but has dismissed any notion of his players simply rolling over to accommodate United.
Significantly, Bruce, a winner of three Premier League titles and three FA Cup, as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup, during a trophy-laden stint at Old Trafford, revealed the thought of a cake walk on Wearside would not have entered his old manager’s thoughts.
“The one thing I know after working with Sir Alex is that he won’t expect any favours because he knows that isn’t in the remit,” he said.
Chelsea and Aston Villa remain the only teams to have left the Stadium of Light with maximum points this season. The Black Cats have taken the prize scalps of the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham and Bruce is adamant his players will want to end their home campaign in style.
Sunderland also came within a whisker of beating United earlier this season before a last-gasp Anton Ferdinand own goal spared United blushes.
Bruce added: “We seriously believe we can win and we really want to win, too,” Bruce said. “All this stuff about just because I played there for 10 years I want to lose… What am I going to say to the players: ‘Oh, by the way lads, just forget it today?’”
Full-back Alan Hutton is suspended for the visit of United but fellow defender Michael Turner, who was substituted at half-time against his former club Hull with an arm injury, has returned to training.
John Mensah (hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (calf) have also trained in recent days and are in contention, but Andy Reid, who had surgery on a calf problem this week, is missing with George McCartney (hamstring).
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