( CNN ) -- Steve Bruce has become the first English Premier League managerial casualty of the season after being sacked by Sunderland on Monday following a poor run of recent results . On Saturday , Sunderland relinquished a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 at home to bottom side Wigan Athletic , with the winning goal coming in injury time . That result left Sunderland 16th in the 20-team division -- just two points above the relegation zone -- despite an extensive recruitment drive in the close season which saw 11 players join the club . The Wigan defeat also highlighted crowd dissatisfaction with Bruce -- with a number of banners calling for his removal -- and club chairman Ellis Short has decided to act after calling recent results `` simply not good enough '' . Ellis told the official Sunderland website : `` This has been a difficult time for everyone at Sunderland and is not a situation that any of us envisaged or expected to be in . `` It is my job as chairman to act in the best interests of our football club at all times and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision I have taken lightly . '' He continued : `` Sadly results this season have simply not been good enough and I feel the time is now right to make a change . `` Steve has acted with honesty and integrity throughout , which is testament to the character and commitment he has shown during his time at Sunderland . `` I would like to personally place on record my thanks to him for his significant contribution to our football club over the past two-and-a- half years and everyone here at Sunderland naturally wishes him the very best for the future . ''
Sunderland manager Wigan has been sacked after Saturday 's two -1 defeat by Wigan . That defeat left Sunderland 16th in the Premier League , just 2 points above the drop zone . Steve Bruce is the first manager to lose his job in the English Premier League Saturday .