Steve Bruce Against Quotations

Six months is a long time to keep everybody bubbling along, making sure they do not lose their confidence. The big turning point was the humiliation we felt against Liverpool.

I went to watch Preston against Sheffield United and people are putting two and two together although, of course, it was an ideal opportunity to see the lad (Nugent).

We played well there last year and we were only a few minutes away from beating them. But they are a fantastic outfit and team and are setting the standards for everyone, so it's an uphill job, but one you look forward to. You love to play against the best and at the moment Chelsea certainly is that.

With my mother being Irish it was a close call. I nearly went, but I decided against it as we were going to be hindered as a club at Manchester United with the five foreigners rule.

We've had a good week. We've had a cracking result against Chelsea and Bolton at home and we needed to come away from home and get something.

Sometimes football kicks you in the teeth and certainly that is the biggest one I have taken. You are just shell-shocked. In the end it was men against boys.

In the end it was men against boys.