Steve Bruce has accused Norwich City of a "knee-jerk" reaction over the sacking of his old Canaries team-mate Bryan Gunn. Gunn was axed after one league game in charge - the 7-1 home demolition by Colchester on the opening day.

Steve Bruce has accused Norwich City of a "knee-jerk" reaction over the sacking of his old Canaries team-mate Bryan Gunn.

Gunn was axed after one league game in charge - the 7-1 home demolition by Colchester on the opening day.

And Bruce, who brings his Sunderland team to Carrow Road tonight for a Carling Cup second round clash, says he feels for the man who kept goal behind him for a year back in the mid-80s.

"I can't understand the decision to sack Big Ben (Gunn)," said Bruce. "It's ridiculous. Why let him go and bring in 12 players if he is not the man for the job?

"He had a setback - and let's be fair, we've all taken a hiding in our time - but to get the sack on the back of it seems a bit knee-jerk to me. I hope Big Ben is all right because he has been there for something like 22-23 years in different roles and it seems to have gone out of the window with that decision.

"Had they done it in the summer, that's one thing.

"But they obviously felt he was the man, then one horrible defeat has changed everything."

Bruce was at City for three years and was in the side which won the League Cup in 1985 - when they beat Sunderland 1-0 at Wembley.

"I had played in the lower divisions for the best part of seven years with Gillingham, until Norwich gave me my chance," said Bruce.

"And within six months, we were playing Sunderland at Wembley. It was incredible. It does sadden me to see them in League One because I have got really, really good memories of the place."