Bruce departure highlights fine lines of success and failure

In the end it was not the Sunderland chairman, Ellis Short, who condemned manager Steve Bruce to the sack, it was the Black Cats supporters.

The sheer level of bile and vitriol aimed in his direction following Wigan’s last minute winner on Saturday rendered his position untenable.

Bruce looked wounded in his post-match press conference, stressing that he “couldn’t help where he was born”. Sadly for him, the north east is more tribal than most, so Bruce’s Newcastle roots were always going to be a stick to beat him with when things went wrong.

And they certainly did that on Saturday – “you fat Geordie b******, get out of our club” was the chant swirling venomously around the Stadium of Light.

Bruce said it bordered on abuse and I can’t say I disagree, but in the eyes of the chairman those singing fans are also paying punters, and when they lose faith in the manager it is very hard for the boss to turn things round. The relegation betting alone will have caused the Sunderland hierarchy to get twitchy.

Ellis Short consulted those around him and after a few days to take stock decided that results were not good enough for Bruce to continue.

Three home wins so far this year certainly points to that, but performances haven’t been that bad. But such are the fine margins in football scores a failure to convert close draws into narrow wins have cost Bruce dear.

His biggest mistake though was probably the failure to adequately replaced Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan – a more ruthless cutting edge may have made the difference in some games this season. Thirty players have come and gone during his tenure, suggesting a lack of an overall plan or formula for success.

Supporters have also criticised him for being too rigid tactically, that a failure to adapt to game situations leaves him open to be out manoeuvred by more astute managers.

There is no doubt that Steve Bruce is a talented manager, but in the cut-throat arena of the Premier League small details make a big difference, and it has cost him dear.