Sunderland defender John O'Shea admits experiencing a managerial sacking for the first time was a shock.

O'Shea joined Sunderland last summer from Manchester United, where he has always known Sir Alex Ferguson as manager.

"It was an eye-opener. I'd never had a change of manager in my entire career," he told the Guardian.

"Then a few months in, Steve Bruce had gone. You're thinking: 'Who's going to come in now?' and you see that anxiousness running through the staff and the players. A bit of guilt, too, perhaps, because the manager has brought you in."