SUNDERLAND slid out of the Carling Cup on penalties last night and a frustrated Steve Bruce claimed he knew what was coming after witnessing his players fail to make the most of some glorious chances.

Bruce was left amazed by Sunderland’s failure to progress into the quarter-finals with Kenwyne Jones missing a penalty six minutes before the end of normal time before Kieran Richardson was somehow denied by American goalkeeper Brad Guzan late in extra-time.

Guzan then saved three penalties in the shoot-out.

Andy Reid, Lorik Cana and Jordan Henderson all saw their efforts from the spot saved to ensure that Villa progressed 3-1 on penalties.

Bruce, who chose to hide in the tunnel for Jones’ spotkick, was stunned by the way in which the fourth round tie went to penalties. But when it did he expected defeat.

“Everyone would agree that when it went to penalties we had no chance, not with the chances we missed,” said Bruce. “I thought our overall performance was excellent on the night. We didn’t deserve what we got, it just wasn’t our night.

“Their keeper had one of those nights he will remember for the rest of his career.

We had a penalty with four to go, then Kieran went clean through and missed.

“You have to take your chances at this level. But I thought we were excellent after a very poor performance at Birmingham on Saturday.”

One player he did single out for special praise was Henderson.

The 19-year-old midfielder was by far Sunderland’s best player on the night, constantly probing the midfield and going close on a number of occasions.

But after Henderson became the last of the three Sunderland players to miss penalties, the Academy graduate headed into dressing room holding back tears.

“He is broken-hearted in there,” said Bruce. “He had a fantastic performance. Jordan was on my list to take a penalty and he has been in my thoughts in all of the games this season.

“He ran himself into a standstill and he was terrific.

He was fantastic. We have a very good player on our hands. He is very disappointed, but he will learn from that, that’s for sure.”

Sunderland return to action on Saturday when West Ham head to the North-East, with Bruce looking for a result that will revive their attempts to finish in the top eight.

But he has injury problems mounting. “We have four or five niggles, and that’s a big blow for us. George McCartney took a knock to his hip.

Fraizer Campbell has a muscle injury, Bolo Zenden has done his hamstring and John Mensah still has a calf injury.”