Bruce insists Black Cats deserved Reds victory

Oct 18 2009 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

STEVE BRUCE insists Sunderland deserved their win over Liverpool – even though Darren Bent’s winning goal should not have stood.

On its way into the net, Bent’s fifth-minute strike hit a beach ball which had been thrown onto the pitch by a Liverpool fan, but referee Mike Jones gave the goal instead of disallowing it and restarting the game with a drop ball as the rules dictate.

But Bruce had no sympathy with Liverpool over that, pointing out that his Sunderland team got what they deserved after creating a hatful of chances against the Reds.

“I thought it was a deflection off a player when I first saw it, and it wasn’t until I saw the replay that I realised otherwise,” he said. “If anybody knew the rule that it should be a drop-ball, though, then I would be amazed!

“The ball had the Liverpool crest on and writing all over it – what a shame! “I thought we thoroughly deserved the win. In the second half we had three one-on-ones with the goalkeeper - Benty had two and Steed Malbranque the other.”

To his credit, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez refused to blame his side’s defeat on the freak goal.