The Black Cats boss is trying to establish Sunderland as a top 10 Premier League side, and his team have performed well enough this season to keep the club in the right half of the division.

But Bruce feels too many decisions are going against Sunderland, and in particular he is upset about the inconsistency of decision making – sometimes by the same referee in different games.

Now he plans to ask referees chief Keith Hackett to review the events of recent weeks – particularly with a situation where the same referee who sent off Kenwyne Jones against West Ham allowed a near-identical incident in another game to pass with just a yellow card.

"I've just compiled a DVD of the referee Andre Marriner, who sent off Kenwyne Jones," revealed Bruce.

"If anybody watched the other weekend, when Blackburn's Pascal Chimbonda punched another player – he gets a yellow card. He gets free from suspension.

"The same referee, it's unbelievable – he gets a yellow card, so I have just asked them to clarify.

"I have tried to speak with Keith Hackett, and what infuriates us is that Andre Marriner sends off Kenwyne but Pascal Chimbonda tries to swing a punch at a player and gets a yellow card. What's the difference?

"I have not spoken to Keith yet, I have been trying, but I will. I will send him a copy of the DVD of the incidents.

"It's the inconsistency levels to blame for why we all go nuts.

"At the time I said Kenwyne should rightly be punished and he was sent off for pushing someone.

"Then someone throws a punch, hits him on the chin and gets a yellow card.So I've asked them to clear that up.

"I have always been of the opinion that they have a hard job. I have the biggest admiration for them, but they are now pros and are paid a lot of money to do the job, and I don't think they are always fair to us. That is what upsets us."