MX23RW : Monday, December 30 23:04:29| >> :60:3249:3249:

Steve Bruce: 'Criticism is part and parcel of being Newcastle manager'

Steve Bruce: 'Criticism is part and parcel of being Newcastle manager'
© Reuters
The Magpies suffered a late collapse against Manchester United last time out.

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce has admitted social media scrutiny is a new pressure as he attempts to build a successful team.

The Magpies have endured a mixed start to the Premier League campaign with victories over West Ham and Burnley having been tempered by humbling defeats at the hands of Brighton and Manchester United, who won 4-1 at St James' Park last weekend.

Bruce, not a universally popular appointment, knows he is under the spotlight once again after a withering response from fans to last weekend's capitulation, which saw his side concede three late goals after reaching the 86th minute at 1-1.

He said: "I'm under no illusion that if you're manager of Newcastle, then the criticism flows. Sometimes you think it's a bit unjust, but it is part and parcel of what we deal with these days with social media the way it is and every game televised.

"You come under huge scrutiny. In the past, you used to discuss it in the pub. 'What did he pick him for?' and 'Why's he picked him?'. Now everybody's is a manager.

"I understand that, it's the beauty of it. It is what it is, so let's just get on with it. I can't stop it, I can't halt it until the next game, and hopefully we can produce a performance that can get us a result and we'll go on from there."

That next opportunity comes at Wolves on Sunday as Bruce's men – for whom keeper Karl Darlow is rated at only 50-50 after a painful collision with United striker Marcus Rashford – attempt to prove that they are getting somewhere this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side arrived in the north-east on the back of a 6-1 drubbing by Tottenham at Old Trafford, but their former skipper was always wary of a backlash.

Bruce said: "All of a sudden because Manchester United got turned over at home by Tottenham, then we're supposed to turn over Manchester United three or four.

"Look, I always knew that Manchester United coming, especially after being beaten so badly, there would be a reaction. Make no bones about it, they will be in the top four, in my opinion.

"We were a bit too open, I grant you that, but we're in that little bit of a change at the moment and we were caught. But we were 1-1 with four minutes to play."

ID:419470: cacheID:419470:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3245:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard pictured in August 2019
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 6 predictions including Manchester United vs. Chelsea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!