Bruce met by avalanche of hatred

There is a thin line between love and hate. Agony aunts would be none too impressed by the kind of love a football fan feels for a player or a manager, all raging jealousy and violent possessiveness.

Only the club is loved unconditionally. The individual who works for that club must take his chances.

Scant months ago Crystal Palace fans still chanted Steve Bruce's name with love. Yesterday their utter loathing for him boiled over from the moment of his arrival at Selhurst Park - his first visit since his bitter defection to Birmingham City last autumn - to the final whistle at the end of a goalless draw.

Police confirmed that bottles were thrown even as the team coach pulled in to the ground at lunchtime. Cheers, Steve. Have a drink on us.

At least the programme notes composed by Palace chairman Simon Jordan made for diverting reading. He wrote: "I welcome Birmingham City Football Club, their chairman, their board of directors and supporters."

Funny how the one name missing from the long list of those welcomed shouted its absence.

But then Mr Jordan declared this "just another game", attributing any media attention to the fact that " Birmingham City are obviously Trevor Francis' previous club".

The crowd, however, did not disguise their feelings. This was the stuff of the lynch mob. Bruce trudged from the tunnel to the dugout amid an avalanche of pure hatred.