A late Stephen Clemence deflected goal earned Blues three points at Pride Park and ended their five game winless streak in the Coca Cola Championship. "All I'm going to do is to get on with my job and protect the young players as best I can. "It is incredible what football is turning into. "Whether we have enough to go up straightaway I don't know, but we'll be there or thereabouts."
"I thought we had the outstanding chances of the game in the first half but in the second Derby played better and caused us problems," Bruce said after the 1-0 win at Pride Park.
"Even if we hadn't got the win it was a better attitude from Tuesday night's debacle. The players rolled up their sleeves and ground out the result.
"Since the Premiership was formed I think only four or five clubs have bounced straight back and I spoken to Alan Pardew in the summer and he told me just how difficult it was.
"We're now only one point off third place but apparently there is a crisis and I am going to lose my job - it is ridiculous.