Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid has hailed manager Steve Bruce for breathing new life into the club.

Reid helped the Black Cats come from two goals and a man down to rescue a 2-2 draw against West Ham at the weekend.

The Irish midfielder feels the side owed Bruce a performance after last weekend's defeat to Birmingham and he insists their new fighting spirit is down to the hard work of the manager.

"We owed the gaffer a performance on Saturday after the way we played at Birmingham," Reid told the Sunderland Echo.

"Last season, never mind 2-0 down, if we'd gone 1-0 down I don't think we would have come back. That was the mentality around the place.

"The new manager has given us a new lease of life. He's been brilliant. He's been straight, he's been fair. At times he's been fun and at times he's been hard. All the things a manager needs."