Bruce remains defiant

Tuesday, 18, Apr 2006 10:48

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has once again insisted that he won't quit St Andrews even if the club are relegated.

The Blues' 3-1 derby defeat to Aston Villa has left them three points off safety with just four games to play.

Bruce has been under intense pressure regarding his future after Birmingham's poor season but he insists that he won't step down even if the club are relegated to the Championship.

"All my career I have lived with pressure and I don't enjoy it but usually I thrive on it," Bruce said.

"I'm thriving on it now in trying to make sure we pull through this current situation but I am very resilient and I've never thought of quitting, and I will not whatever happens."

Birmingham were dealt a massive blow to their relegation fight when defender Matthew Upson was ruled out for six months after rupturing his Achilles in the warm-up on Sunday.

The Blues have suffered with a spate of injuries all season which has undermined their campaign but Bruce has insisted that it isn't solely to blame for their current plight.

However, despite missing key players, such as Upson, for the run-in, Bruce is confident his team can maintain their Premiership status.

"This has been the hardest season for me to deal with in terms of the problems we've had and we haven't been able to get our big players on the pitch," Bruce added.

"We have a chance to stay up as three weeks ago we were written off but we have improved our results so I am sure there are going to be some more twists and turns in the next two or three weeks before everything is settled."

Birmingham face Blackburn and Newcastle at home and Everton and Bolton away in their remaining games.