The 49-year-old Sunderland manager will lead his side into a third-round battle with Blue Square Premier League side Barrow at the Stadium of Light knowing exactly what it is like to go all the way in the world's oldest club knockout competition. Bruce was in the Manchester United sides which defeated Crystal Palace after extra-time in 1990 and Chelsea 4-0 four years later to lift the famous trophy at Wembley, and memories of the latter game in particular remain among the fondest of his playing days. He said: "It's one of the highlights of my career. I remember we were 4-0 up against Chelsea with 20 minutes to go and thinking - when you are a kid, it is great to see the steps at the old Wembley, and you are going to go and do that, and are your hands clean and all that nonsense. "They are great memories. Make no mistake, if you get to the later rounds, maybe not the third and fourth, it's a magical event, and if you are fortunate enough to win it, it's a great day and a great occasion for everybody." Bruce insisted on his arrival on Wearside during the summer that winning one of the two domestic cup competitions was well within the Black Cats' grasp, and his view has not changed since. However, he is well aware his dream could be derailed at the first time of asking if his side does not perform to its best against opposition with nothing to lose and 7,200 travelling fans and many neutrals willing them to produce a shock. While the competition may have been kind to Bruce as a player, it has not brought him any measure of success as a manager to date. His best run came during his time at Birmingham when Sunderland ended the adventure with a 2-0 fifth-round replay at St Andrews in 2004, and then themselves went on to lose to Millwall in the semi-finals at Old Trafford. Bruce said: "I haven't done much managerially. "We lost to Sunderland when I was at Birmingham. They came down and beat us 2-0 in a replay, and then Sunderland lost to Millwall in the semis. "That's the furthest I have gone. I usually draw Liverpool or Manchester United or Chelsea in the third round. "It's great if you need some money, but not very good if you want to try to progress. "But it is a fantastic competition. For some reason, it has been devalued a little bit, which is sad, really. "But hey, it just shows what it is like - they [Barrow] are bringing a quarter of their town. That's unbelievable." Even with a depleted squad, Sunderland should have too much for Barrow, although Bruce, having grown up with the unpredictability of the FA Cup, will take nothing for granted. He said: "Cardiff got to the FA Cup final, there have been a few shocks. We have seen it often enough. "Millwall a few years ago got to the FA Cup final, so it is possible for a so-called smaller team to go all the way, that's for sure. "If the draw is kind to you, it can happen because if the big boys draw each other and knock each other out, then of course it can happen." Bruce is likely to stick with the 11 men who fought out a 2-2 Premier League draw at Blackburn on Monday with injuries and suspension once again playing havoc, and that could mean starts for Daryl Murphy and David Meyler.
