On This Day: 6 September 2010 – Steve Bruce perplexed by Sunderland’s poor away form

On this day in 2010, Steve Bruce was trying to figure out just how on earth he could rectify his side’s terrible away record, which had seen Sunderland win only one of the last 19 games away from the Stadium of Light.

Looking ahead to the weekend’s game away at his former club Wigan, which followed a last minute home win over Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City, Bruce was keen to pick up three points at the DW Stadium.

We’d started the season with one win, one draw and one defeat – away at West Brom.

And, despite being on course to pick up all three points in the fixture with the Latics, a late Alcarez goal equalised half-time sub Gyan’s debut strike, leaving Sunderland – who’d been down to 10 men since Cattermole’s early red card – once again frustrated.

Photo by Clint Hughes/PA Images via Getty Images

Our run of poor away form continued for a month or two more, before that 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

That was to prove the highlight of Bruce’s reign, a run of 6 wins, 7 draws and 18 defeats in 31 games saw Bruce depart the following season, ironically enough after a game against Wigan.