Yes it’s messy but I’ve learnt never to quit
BRUCE DRAWS ON UNITED LESSON
STEVE BRUCE admits he only got to the top as a player because of his mental strength and is drawing on it now as embattledWest Brom boss.
Bruce knows he needs a result today when Luton visit to keep his job as manager after crunch talks with CEO Ron Gourlay.
His side slipped into the bottom three onWednesday after they were beaten 1-0 by Preston at Deepdale.
It prompted large sections of the away following to chant for Bruce to be sacked and the pressure mounts on the former Newcastle boss.
He has won just once in the Championship this season and seven times in 29 league games since taking over in February.
But Bruce has vowed to fight on and wants his side to match his battling qualities from his playing days at Manchester United, where he won the Premier League three times.
The 61-year-old said: “I understand the situation, we all understand the situation, it is pretty straightforward, we have to get a result.
“I will never give in, I have quit when I wanted another job. But never when it gets messy like it is now and in that way people say, ‘Maybe he is a bit sick’.
“In both management and playing I’ve always liked to think that my team will never give up the fight. I am sure and convinced the players I have here are ready for that challenge.
“That is the message I will give to everybody and is in my nature. “That is what I did as a player, I didn’t have much else. I used to look around at who I played with and they were all blessed with wonderful ability. I had half their ability.”
His son Alex, first-team assistant coach, was heckled by fans after the Preston defeat in an angry exchange, which Bruce stepped in to diffuse from the team bus.
“I went to placate someone who was shouting and bawling obscenities at us from a very short distance,” said Bruce.
“I got off the coach to say I understand his frustrations but there is no need to shout and bawl when there are kids around.
“We understand it and get it and I wished him a safe trip home.
“I would just urge the supporters to get behind the team like I know they can do. Our job is to give them something to cheer.”
Bruce was hounded out of his last job at Newcastle a year ago but said: “I thought I did OK there. I kept us in the division for two years in difficult circumstances.”