Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Steve Bruce vs Gus Poyet: 'Buckets of drinks' to blame for touchline scuffle, says Sunderland manager Poyet

The Sunderland manager was sent to the stands after the altercation

David Hughes
Tuesday 03 March 2015 23:37 GMT
Comments
Steve Bruce is restrained by Stuart Burt
Steve Bruce is restrained by Stuart Burt (Getty Images)

The Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has blamed 'buckets of drinks' being placed near him for sparking a touchline altercation with Hull boss Steve Bruce during the teams' 1-1 draw.

Poyet appeared furious with a refereeing decision and kicked over a cooler of Lucozade bottles, for which he was sent to the stands.

Before leaving the touchline he angrily confronted Bruce, sarcastically applauding his opposite number, before the Hull manager had to be forcibly restrained from lunging towards Poyet by the assistant referee Stuart Burt.

"In football things happen," Poyet told the BBC. "I was sent off for kicking the bucket. I have to convince the officials not to put any buckets of drinks around me. I have no regrets whatsoever.

"If that is a bad image for football I am sorry but I don't think it's something to worry about."

Bruce played down the incident, which was sparked by Sunderland's Jack Rodwell being booked for diving after Hull had taken a 1-0 lead thanks to Dame N'Doye's strike.

"From Gus's reaction he thought the decision was wrong," Bruce said. "You have to ask him why he came over to myself. I don't know what I was supposed to have done.

"These things happen in the heat of the moment. Grown men acting like a couple of children. They happen in big games.

"Let's go and have a glass of red. I hope he's OK."

Poyet watched from his new vantage point high up in the KC Stadium as Jack Rodwell netting a second half equaliser from close range after a fine cross from Patrick van Aanholt.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in