Bruce hit out at Halsey after Blues keeper Colin Doyle was adjudged to have brought down Hammers striker Craig Bellamy for a penalty which was converted by Mark Noble for a 1-0 win to the Hammers.

But the City boss has said sorry to Halsey after viewing the incident again.

Bruce said: "To be fair last week, I said the referee was wrong - but I was wrong. It was a penalty.

"Straight after games you sometimes say things about incidents and and then you look at them again and and analyse them more - and it was a penalty.

"I do apologise to the referee and his assistant. I gave him (Halsey) a hard time last week and he didn't deserve it. In my opinion it was a penalty."

Meanwhile, Bruce is hoping to sign midfielder Wilson Palacios on loan from his Honduran club Olympia.

Palacios has spent a few days at Blues on trial after being recommended by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger but Bruce wants to have an extended look at the player over the next few months.

Bruce said: "I am speaking to Wilson's agent with a view to trying to construct a loan deal so we can have a better look at him up until Christmas.

"It's one of those where Mr Wenger rang me up. Arsenal have seven or eight midfielders so he gave me a ring and said to have a look.

"It is difficult to judge people over three or four days so the ideal solution is if we can bring Wilson up until Christmas but we have to get permission off his club.

"There is a transfer fee, there will be international clearance and we will need a work permit. He is aged 22 and he is called 'The Magician' in Honduras."