Gary Bennett: “Steve Bruce is under incredible pressure and, to be honest, it’s a no-win situation for him.
“I’m sorry to say it but I think it’s inevitable he will go - the question is when and how.
“If he continues and wins a few games, it will take the sting out of it but as soon as he loses a couple on the trot the barracking will be back.
“I was hosting the phone-in after the Wigan game and there was a lot of hostility from the fans.
“With good results he could win some of those fans over, but the problem is that you can never win everyone over.
“And the minority always have the loudest voices.
“There are two weeks before the next home game and I would think that both Steve Bruce and the club will be looking at the situation.
“The fans’ reaction crossed the line from footballing matters to the personal and, from the manager’s point of view, he must be asking himself if he needs to put himself and his family through this.
“It’s very hard for a Geordie to succeed in charge at Sunderland – or vice-versa.
“Bob Stokoe was a Geordie who won the FA Cup with Sunderland and became a hero, but that was nearly 40 years ago and I just don’t think that would be possible now.
“In those days, supporters went to see Sunderland at home one week and Newcastle the next.
“The rivalry is so much more fierce now and as soon as things start to go wrong, the manager’s background is the first thing the fans will point to.
“I do feel for Bruce because he has been unfortunate.
“The club has struggled with massive injury problems and that certainly hasn’t helped him.
“Also he has put his trust in the players he has brought in and some of them need to take a look at themselves.
“But, ultimately, the manager always takes responsibility and gets the lion’s share of the blame when things go wrong.”