BRUCE REFUSES TO GLOAT OVER BLUES' PLIGHT.

Byline: By MAT KENDRICK

FORMER Birmingham boss Steve Bruce insists he takes no perverse pleasure from Blues' perilous Premier League predicament.

But Bruce believes securing Wigan's top flight status with victory at Villa Park yesterday eclipses everything he achieved at St Andrew's.

The Latics boss was in no mood to gloat following his 2-0 win over Aston Villa despite Birmingham plunging deeper into the relegation mire.

Although he did fire a thinly-veiled dig at the St Andrew's board by suggesting they would probably put all the blame on him if Blues go down.

Bruce was asked what he thought of Birmingham's 2-0 defeat at Fulham - a result which leaves his old club in the bottom three with one game left.

He said: "It doesn't give me any satisfaction whatsoever, please believe me on that.

Football goes like that occasionally, but I suppose that will be my fault as well!"

Having taken over at the JJB Stadium with Wigan in a precarious predicament in December, Bruce was delighted to reach the 40 point mark yesterday.

He described it as his best achievement in management and paid tribute to ex-Blues coach Eric Black and goalkeeping coach Nigel Spink for their assistance.

"I was driving home from Bolton and we had nine points on December 16 and I was thinking: 'We're in trouble, we'll need an almighty effort'.

"To get 31 points since Christmas is fantastic and is a credit to them and also my staff who followed me and came with me, which you need to help you.

"It's never easy to just go in there, you've got to make an impact straight away and make big decisions quickly.

"I might be proud of what I achieved at Birmingham and I haven't achieved much in management but this is probably as big a success as I've had."

Bruce also made a point of thanking Wigan chairman Dave Whelan for believing in him and paying Blues pounds 3m compensation for his services.

"I'm delighted I've repaid the chairman Mr Whelan who forked out an unbelievable sum of money and had that faith in me that I was his man to turn his club around," he said.

"I'm absolutely delighted for him because he deserves his team to be in the Premier League."

Bruce was unwilling to predict how he thought the survival battle would pan out during next Sunday's final round of top flight fixtures.

"I'm going to look at mid-table now, forget looking at the bottom," he added.

CAPTION(S):

STAYING UP: Steve Bruce has guided Wigan to safety joining from Blues