Hull v Sunderland: Defender Bruce looking for Tigers to extend gap over drop zone

Since taking charge of the Tigers, the 54-year-old has masterminded three league victories in as many league meetings with the Black Cats.

Throw in last season’s FA Cup quarter-final triumph, too, and it is apparent that Bruce has developed a knack of beating a club that sacked him in November, 2011.

In terms of Hull’s survival battle, an extension of that winning run tonight would go down very well and set up Bruce’s men nicely for their next assignment – a trip to bottom club Leicester City a week on Saturday.

Not that it will be easy, with Gus Poyet’s men – who sit one point and one place below City in the table – desperate to kick-start their own push for safety after a tough few weeks that has included a sorry FA Cup exit to League One Bradford City.

“We have a decent record against Sunderland but they will be saying they are due a decent result against us,” said Alex Bruce ahead of tonight’s KC Stadium game.

“Records count for nothing and I don’t think our wins, as good as they were, will be on their minds. Sunderland will be treating us with the same respect we will show them but that is all.

“They will be determined to win and we have to be ready.”

City and the Wearsiders both go into tonight’s encounter on the back of a disappointing loss at the weekend.

For Sunderland, a 2-0 reverse at Manchester United was made all the more frustrating by it coming on an afternoon when Wes Brown was sent off in a case of mistaken identity when John O’Shea should have, instead, walked.

Brown will be available to face the Tigers, who also lost on the road thanks to a late goal by Peter Crouch that clinched a 1-0 win for Stoke City.

“The results went for us a little bit so that gives us some breathing space,” said Bruce about a weekend that also saw Burnley and Aston Villa lose.

“But, obviously, if we can get the win against Sunderland then it will give us a massive cushion.

“I don’t think our previous record, as good as it is, will count for anything.

“The next two games are pivotal for our season. I don’t think there was anything in the Stoke game and it should have finished 0-0.

“We were very frustrated not to get a point. A draw would have been fair. But, over a marathon of a season like it is, you sometimes don’t get the rub of the green that you might sometimes deserve.”

Last six games: Hull City LLLDWWL Sunderland WDLLDL.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Last time: Hull City 3 Sunderland 0, March 9, 2014, FA Cup.