Bruce (left) spent a club record �10m on Bent in August 2009

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits his side are over-reliant on striker Darren Bent following Monday's 0-0 draw away to Blackburn.

Rovers had defender Chris Samba sent off on the stroke of half-time but Sunderland could not capitalise.

Bruce told BBC Newcastle: "We have to chip in [with goals] from other areas. As I've said repeatedly we can't just keep relying on Benty."

Bent tops Sunderland's scoring charts with seven goals this season.

The 26-year-old, who scored 25 goals last season, had been expected to sit out of the trip to Ewood Park after picking up a groin strain while on international duty with England.

But he won his fitness race and was again deployed as a lone frontman by his manager.

The former Spurs striker spurned one glorious first-half chance when through on goal with only Paul Robinson to beat, and also saw a second-half header kept out by the Rovers keeper.

"Bent has had two or three where you expect a goal," added Bruce.

"On another night we win the game."

The point leaves Sunderland with six draws from their opening nine games, but Bruce had hoped to emerge with a first away win of the season following Samba's dismissal for a professional foul in first-half injury time.

"Away from home in the Premier League you take a point but with the circumstances you think 'is it our night?'

"It's not often you play against 10 men. But arguably they were better with 10 and got men quickly behind the ball and we became a little bit frustrated.

"We didn't show enough guile and didn't move the ball quickly enough."

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