Sunderland chief Steve Bruce has a message for his players ahead of this weekend's game at Wigan - do it for the fans.

The full allocation of tickets for the Lancashire clash were snapped up quickly and the travelling support is set to exceed the 4,500 who watched the 1-0 win at Bolton on the opening day of the 2009/10 campaign.

The Black Cats will be backed by their biggest away following of the season so far with around 5,000 members of the red and white army set to make the trip to the DW Stadium.

Sunderland have not tasted victory on the road in the league since the victory at the Reebok Stadium - something Bruce is keen to put right this Saturday.  A victory over the Latics would be an ideal tonic following back-to-back away defeats at Birmingham and Spurs.

"We mustn't let the fans down this weekend," he told safc.com.  "They work hard to watch these games and the tickets sold out very quickly.

"I've said before that the away support was one of the reasons I came here.  It's terrific to see and I would like to thank each and every fan who is making the trip on Saturday.  We will see you there!"

Questioned about his own reception from the home supporters after leaving Wigan in the summer, Bruce quipped: "My reception?  I don't know.  But I've got skin like a rhino."

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