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Steve Bruce pleased with players' attitude after draw

Bruce pleased with players' attitude after draw
© PA Photos
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is pleased with a point after a late equaliser earns his side a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was pleased with his players' attitude after they salvaged a point at home to Aston Villa.

Richard Dunne's goal looked to have sealed a 2-1 win for the visitors, but Stephane Sessegnon's goal three minutes from time earned Bruce's side a point.

"When you're 2-1 down with three minutes remaining, I think you've got to be pleased with a draw," Bruce told Sky Sports News. "Certainly in the second-half, I didn't think that we had done enough.

"Villa changed the system a little bit and went three in the middle of the field and we found it very, very difficult to get control of the game.

"I can't say enough of the attitude of our players. I think that's every game apart from Bolton last week where we seemed to be going behind and we're making a fist of it but today, I'm pleased that we got something out of it."

The Black Cats manager was also full of praise for teenage striker Connor Wickham, who scored Sunderland's first goal of the afternoon.

"He's only 18 and there are not many 18-year-olds playing in the Premier League and scoring goals, so it will do him the world of good," Bruce added.

"It was a great finish with his left foot - his weaker foot and overall, I was very pleased for him. I thought he did very well at Bolton and so long may it continue."

The point has left the North East side in 14th place in the Premier League table.

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Alex McLeish
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