Bramble's Confidence Returns!

Last updated : 02 January 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Centre-back Bramble, who scored his maiden goal for the club and first for 16 months in that game, feels the arrival of Bruce has been a breath of fresh air.

He was stuck with the label "the player who got managers the sack", after Sir Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder all backed him when he was rubbish, and if Bruce can get the best out of him ... it will be a first.

Bramble: "We certainly don't feel we're playing like a team in the bottom three since the new manager arrived.

"He has been fantastic, and if we continue to play the way we have then we should be out of the bottom three again pretty soon.

"But all he's done is gone back to basics and made sure we're a harder team to beat. It's been that simple.

"I now don't see any reason why we can't get out of this because we've the players and the coaching staff to do it.

"Obviously our record is not good against the top four. But there is always a first time, and there's no reason why it can't be tonight (v Liverpool).

"The last time we played them (beaten 1-0 at home in September), we were unlucky to lose.

"Clearly no-one will expect us to get anything on this occasion either, but you never know, we might just surprise a few people.

"Because of that it doesn't really take the pressure off, so we have to make sure we prepare ourselves right."