STEVE Bruce has leapt to the defence of Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce as he prepares to take his Sunderland side to Ewood Park for this evening’s televised Premier League clash.

Allardyce’s methodology has been intensely scrutinised in recent days after Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy claimed he was one of a trio of bosses who increased the risk of a serious injury by sending their players out “too pumped up”.

The Rovers boss refuted the allegations on Thursday, and Bruce has also condemned Murphy’s comments as illfounded.

The Sunderland manager is a long-term friend of his counterpart at Ewood Park, and feels Allardyce is unfairly categorised as a long-ball advocate who adopts an unswervingly physical approach.

“I think there’s been a lot of hype about the way they play,”

said Bruce. “Big Sam’s teams are difficult to play against, they’re always going to be, but if you’re a manager of Bolton or Blackburn – no disrespect – you’ve got to do something to make sure your club stays in the P r e m i e r League. He’s proved a master of that.

“I think I speak for Sam and every other manager when I say that none of us want to send a team out that would physically hurt anyone.

But you need your team to be competitive.

“I need my team to be like that (tonight) because I know Sam’s team will be. But no-one wants to see anybody injured.”

Having spent a number of seasons managing together in the North-West, Bruce and Allardyce remain close friends.

They have been on holiday together in each of the last two summers, and while Bruce is willing to take on Allardyce on the pitch this evening, he will not be attempting to match his ability to drink brandy.

“We both started (in management) at the same sort of time,” he said. “He was at Notts County when I was at S h e f f i e l d United, and we drew them in the cup. But I’ve known him around the Manchester area for a long time.

“I went to Spain with him for a few days a while back, and spent a couple of days with him this summer. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from him it’s keep off the b r a n d y .

Never take Big Sam on at the brandy.”

Allardyce made 25 appearances for Sunderland as a player in the early 1980s, and was also appointed to the club’s coaching staff under Peter Reid.

However, he is better known in the North-East for his ill-fated spell in charge of Newcastle United three years ago.

Allardyce was an unpopular figure throughout his St James’ Park reign, and was eventually dismissed by Mike Ashley in January 2008.

He has subsequently reappeared at Blackburn, but Bruce admits he is still scarred by his experience with the Magpies.

“I think he’s obviously disappointed with what happened up here,” he said.

“From the off, he wasn’t Mike Ashley’s man and it was his big chance of a big job.

“I don’t think he looks on with envy at what I’ve got here at Sunderland, but I think the big disappointment for him was what happened at Newcastle.”

The pair’s friendship will go out of the window tonight, of course, with Bruce desperate to lead his side to only their second Premier League away win since the opening day of last season.

Sunderland’s dreadful away record stands in marked contrast to their fine form at the Stadium of Light, but Bruce is at pains to point out that they are not the only club struggling to make a mark on the road.

Seven Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, are still to record an away win this season, and Bruce feels it is getting harder and harder to claim victories away from home.

“It’s becoming increasingly tough,” he said. “Manchester United haven’t even won away yet, and I bet a competitive team like Blackburn haven’t won too many games in 15 months away from home.

“We’re not alone, but we have to improve on it.

“We’ve done particularly well at home since I’ve been here, but our away form last season cost us getting in the top ten.

“We were fifth from bottom away from home in terms of points taken. If we had been average, that might have meant a top-ten finish.”

Darren Bent faces a late fitness test on the groin injury that forced him to withdraw from England’s goalless draw with Montenegro.

With Bruce insisting he will take no risks with Sunderland’s leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan is poised to make his first Premier League start as a lone striker.

Phil Bardsley is likely to continue at left-back, despite the return of Anton Ferdinand, but Craig Gordon is expected to replace Simon Mignolet in goal, despite the Belgian’s impressive start to the season.