Steve Bruce rues missed chances

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has bemoaned his side's failure to find the net as they exited the Carling Cup at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion last night.

Seagulls striker Craig Makail-Smith scored the only goal of the tie during extra time to send Bruce's men out of the competition at the second round stage.

Bruce believes that his side dominated the match against their Championship opponents, but has stressed the need for his players to convert their chances.

"My overriding emotion is one of disappointment because I've said all along we take cup competitions extremely seriously and we put out a team that mirrored that," he told the club's official website.

"But like today and Saturday, if you don't take chances when they come along you leave yourself open.

"If you don't score, you don't win football matches and at the moment that's where we're lacking."

Next up for the Black Cats is a trip to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon.