DURING a period when there is greater scrutiny surrounding Steve Bruce's position at the Stadium of Light than at any other time during his reign, the Sunderland manager knows how important a second home win of the season is this afternoon.

Almost two-and-a-half years in to his tenure on Wearside, though, and Bruce has shaped up for the visit of the Premier League's bottom club by insisting he has no regrets about turning his back on Wigan in the summer of 2009.

Sunderland have not started as strongly as they would have liked this season, sitting 15th in the division and with just two points separating them from the bottom three ahead of their 13th game.

But while the impressive start at Newcastle United has undoubtedly contributed to the rising pressure on the manager's shoulders, Bruce also thinks the fact Sunderland are just four points off eighth place should not be lost either.

Does he feel any extra pressure? "From what? If you do this job, you are going to feel, if it is the right word, pressure but I don't really feel like that. It's more disappointed," said Bruce.

"We could quite easily be four or five points better off. There are 12 teams separated by four points, so every team around us is in a similar situation.

"When I analyse the performances, we have only really played badly once, at Norwich. Last week for example, we just needed something to turn a little bit our way. We played well enough at Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool - Swansea looks a decent point now. But it is this league and I have been in it long enough, I know it is extremely tough but I also know we need to win a match."

Bruce could quite easily have turned down the opportunity to take on the challenge of taking Sunderland to ‘the next level' in favour of staying at Wigan, where Premier League survival year on year would suffice.

However, with success starved fans at Sunderland demanding something more to show from five years of investment from the Drumaville Consortium and Ellis Short, Bruce was keen to take that step - hoping he will become the manager to achieve.

"One thing I have learned here, the expectation is different to Wigan, to Fulham, to West Brom, Bolton or Birmingham," said the former Manchester United defender.

"We have huge support, which is quite remarkable and quite fabulous, but with that is expectation and that is why I came here. I could have quite easily stayed at Wigan and got no hassle."

He added: "But there are never moments when I regret leaving there. No, no not at all. If I had not taken this job I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.

"Even through the dark times when you are getting crucified, there is something in me which is telling me ‘I am going to show them.' I just hope we can beat Wigan, win the next game and we will be sitting eighth and everyone will be saying what was the problem?"

Bruce has quickly realised there is also a demand on his shoulders to try to deliver exciting football, rather than bland, unattractive techniques which have benefited a number of other clubs in the Premier League over the years.

Bruce, who is considering playing Kieran Richardson behind lone striker Nicklas Bendtner today, said: "You have to play in a certain way here and you have to win. I cannot get away with just humping the balls up the pitch, they would not accept that and I understand that.

"They want their team to show they have a bit of passion like they do and you have to give them that and a fighting attitude. I think the vast majority of fans have seen from where we were two and a half years ago that we are way ahead of that. Sometimes we need reminding of that too. This squad of players compared to where we were is miles in front."

Provided Bruce can improve Sunderland's fortunes and continues to be perceived by Short as the right man to take the club forward, it is unclear whether he will be given funding in the January transfer window to strengthen.

And in talking up the return to fitness of Fraizer Campbell, who is a few weeks away from making a long-awaited comeback, he appeared to play down any notion that he will be looking to strengthen his firepower.

"It is always difficult in January, we suffered badly last year," he said. "It is difficult unless you are going to pay over the odds at that time. Certainly you get more value in the summer months though that is not to say we are not looking.

"Hopefully Connor will be fit and Fraizer Campbell is a big one for us. If he can come back fit, he will give everyone a lift."