STEVE Bruce has learned a painful lesson from Sam Allardyce this summer: getting the cash for a spending spree is all well and good but integrating a handful of players into a Premiership team takes time.

"Sam's got it right," said the Birmingham boss, who was allowed to sign every player on his wish list, and more besides. "One thing I've learned is that putting five or six new players into your team doesn't work.

"It's nice to be able to get them in but it's best, like Sam has done, to just bring one or two into the team so that they all know what's required.

"You can see the way Bolton play that they are well-drilled, well-rehearsed and all know what they are doing. They know what their jobs are. But, because of our injury situation, we haven't quite got that yet."

Bruce was speaking after Birmingham came from behind after a wretched first half to draw 1-1 at the Reebok.

He refused to disclose precisely what he said to his players at half-time to inspire such a spirited second half recovery but it did the trick with Muzzy Izzet - one of his summer recruits - levelling the scores within three minutes of the restart after Radhi Jaidi had confirmed Wanderers' dominance in the 16th minute.

"I never reveal what's said in the dressing room but you can imagine we weren't very happy with what we'd seen in the first half," he said. "I was looking for a response and got it. I was delighted with the second half performance, it was more like what we expect but the game could have been over by then.

"Bolton have had three good results against the top teams and you can see why. This is a difficult place to come and play; they are big, physical, put the ball into your box and are tough to play against.

"We haven't had the best of starts but, from what I saw in the second half, we are making strides.

"That second half was possibly as well as we've played, especially away from home. In fact, the longer the game went on, who knows ... we might have nicked it."

Bruce's face was cut and grazed - the results of an early morning scuffle with two men who were breaking into his daughter's car outside their Midlands home. But he played down the skirmish, insisting: "It's all garbage that I was attacked. It was all over with in five seconds. Unfortunately he grabbed my face, as you can see."