And, after stirring victories over Liverpool and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats have to take the show on the road and look to impress on their travels.

He said: "We've got two consecutive away games now – Wigan tomorrow and Fulham in a week's time – and we have to look to do well in both because our away form has been really up and down.

"Our worst performances this season have come away from home. We were awful for a half at Burnley and for the entire game at Birmingham City. We also disappointed in the game at Stoke City.

"But having said that, we've also had some decent away performances.

"We were excellent at Old Trafford and only an injury-time deflection prevented us taking all three points from Manchester United.

"And I thought we were great against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in our last away game

"It was one of those strange games you get sometimes where you play the better football and deserve to win but sometimes you just don't get the rub of the green.

"We ended up losing that game but on the balance of play we certainly deserved at least one point and probably all three."

Now, Bruce wants Sunderland to not only produce consistently good displays away from home but also pick up the points to go with the displays.

The Black Cats boss is fully aware that Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers – both in the relegation zone – have taken more points on their travels than Sunderland this season.

But he is not going to allow that to blinker him to the fact that the Wearsiders still have a lot to be proud of.

"We had to start somewhere," he shrugged. "And I think we started with our home form.

"I think the first thing we had to get right was to improve our form at the Stadium of Light in front of the vast majority of our fans because we didn't win too many at home last season.

"I think we've got the improvement we were looking for there and that's great but we don't want to be seen as a side which is either a good home side or even a specialist away side.

"You're looking to be consistent both at home and on your travels.

"I wouldn't say our away form is a concern but it is something we are really focusing on improving and these next two matches give us the opportunity to do just that."