Steve Bruce has had to watch a lot of unpalatable performances this season as Birmingham have struggled in the Premiership relegation zone, writes Ian Clarkson.

However, he says that their second-half performance at Torquay was 'terrible' and apologised to supporters after a goalless draw at Plainmoor in the third round of the FA Cup.

"The second half was terrible, the longest 30 minutes of my life, thankfully we are still in their fighting," said an angry yet relieved Bruce, who before the weekend deemed the match not worthy of concern.

"There will be four of five changes for the next game, I simply can't sit back and accept that," he said.

"There is nothing pleasant about seeing your team involved in a game like that; it is a relief to be talking about a draw because maybe we shouldn't even have got that.

"I can fully understand the frustration of the fans who made the trip, I felt it with them because it was such a poor show which I make no excuses for.

"We played so well against Wigan and they thought we had turned the corner but we are now back at square one because that was not good enough.

"We can't possible play worse, we are fortunate to still be in the competition by the skin of our teeth.

"Our glaring problem again was in attack, we didn't look threatening or cause any problems.

"We didn't play, we expected something to happen instead of making it.

"The players have finished the game relieved - so they should be."

Bruce said that any repetition in the replay at St Andrew's on January 17 (7.45pm) would result in the same problems.

He said: "We will have to play a lot better in the replay, we have got away with it at Plainmoor.

"There is a lot of fear involved when you are a manager of a Premiership side coming to a place like this.

"Torquay played well above themselves and caught us on a particularly poor day, especially in the second half.

"The pitch was not great but I am not making excuses. "But that is the beauty of the FA Cup, Torquay played very well and we are glad to still be in the hat.

"There is always a shock and it was very nearly us." ..SUPL: