Bruce departure highlights fine lines of success and failure

In the end it was not the Sunderland chairman, Ellis Short, who condemned manager Steve Bruce to the sack, it was the Black Cats supporters.

The sheer level of bile and vitriol aimed in his direction following Wigan's last minute winner on Saturday rendered his position untenable.

Bruce looked wounded in his post-match press conference, stressing that he "couldn't help where he was born".