Clarke was clearly angered by Bruce’s comments and decided to go on the offensive by pointing out the persistent foul-play by Sunderland Captain Lorik Cana.
"First of all, I think it was wrong of Steve Bruce to comment on our players - we have a manager who doesn't speak about any other teams' players, so I think that was wrong.
"He said what he said - I find it incredible that the player who was the victim is the person that everybody is talking about.
"You have to correct me - tell me what Ilunga did wrong? Someone pushed him in the face, he's just recently recovered from a triple fracture to the jaw, maybe he thought there was a punch coming.
"I find it incredible that we're sitting here speaking about our player who was the victim, this is wrong. It's completely wrong. He's a big boy Kenwyne Jones, he's a very big boy. He had to look after himself".
"I also find it incredible that the Sunderland captain wasn't sent-off - he was booked for a terrible tackle on Mark Noble, he kicked him up in the back.
"He was warned for a ridiculous lunge into the back of Mark Noble three or four minutes later.
"He then committed a two-footed tackle on Guillermo Franco in the centre circle which the referee knew he couldn't give as a free-kick as he would have had to send him off.
"And then after that he persistently fouled, another two-footed lunge in the second-half.
"You know it is easy to speak about other teams and other teams' players.
"I don't agree with it but if people are going to have a go at our players then I'm going to have a go back, I'm sorry."