Hull City v Huddersfield Town: Black Cats’ self-inflicted misfortune over Bruce proving lucky for Tigers

Hull City's Stephen Quinn (left) and Newcastle United's Loic Remy battle for the ball

HULL CITY midfielder Stephen Quinn insists Premier League rivals Sunderland will rue the day they sacked Tigers manager Steve Bruce.

The Black Cats are searching for their sixth full-time manager in under five years following Sunday’s axing of Paolo di Canio, one of several to pay the price for poor runs of form on Wearside.

Given the hugely impressive job done by Hull boss Bruce, rejected by Sunderland back in November 2011, many fans are entitled to think that the club made a big mistake in dispensing with his services just 13 league games into the 2011-12 campaign.

Some would go further and suggest it has backfired spectacularly.

But Sunderland’s loss has unquestionably proved Hull’s gain, according to Quinn, with Bruce taking the Tigers back to the Premier League in his first full season in charge at the KC Stadium.

The East Yorkshire club have so far made a fair fist of things back in the top flight.

Bruce enjoyed a sweet victory at the weekend against Newcastle United at St James’ Park – where he endured his toughest day as a manager when his Black Cats side crashed 5-1 in the Tyne-Wear derby in October 2010 – and Quinn said: “The gaffer is brilliant.

“He is vastly experienced and makes all the boys in the changing room so relaxed and shows belief in us.

“Credit to him what he has done here since he has been at the club. It’s been unbelievable.

“He got sacked from Sunderland, which was an unbelievable decision when you look back at it now. Hindsight is a great thing, but I bet they would love to have him back there now.