Sunderland fine Jones for seeing red

Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones has been fined by the club for his sending-off against West Ham when he raised his hands to West Ham defender Herita Ilunga during last Saturday's 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Boss Steve Bruce insisted Jones, who will start a three-match ban with Saturday's trip to Tottenham, should have known better.

He said: "That's the disappointing thing of the sending-off, not just dealing with West Ham last week, we have got to go into the next three games without Kenwyne.

"That's why he has been punished. The club has punished him.

"We have got a standard disciplinary procedure which comes into effect. It's quite simple, it's there in black and white for them.

"Kieran Richardson was exactly the same two weeks ago. If you get sent off for two yellow cards or mistimed tackles, that happens, or you are the last man and you may get handballed or something, that happens.

"But something silly - we have all done it, we have all been there, the heat of the moment and you react.

"He will be a miss because the strike-force for me has been the reason why we are going the way we are at the moment, because we are a threat at the top end of the pitch.

"Being without Kenwyne, we will have to adapt."