A number of Newcastle United supporters have been reacting to comments from Steve Bruce insisting that he still retains the backing of the Magpies’ squad despite their 1-0 defeat at Brentford in the Carabao Cup.
The Geordies went into the game off the back of poor performances in the 5-2 defeat at Leeds United and the 1-1 draw against 10-man Fulham at St James’ Park. Bruce was in need of an improved display from his team and most importantly a win which would have seen them through to the semi-finals of the competition.
Instead, Newcastle were laboured in possession and did not do anywhere near enough to win the game, something to which Bruce confessed following the defeat. The loss was compounded by the fact that the Magpies played their strongest team available, while Brentford chose to rest a few key players ahead of the busy festive schedule in the Championship.
Bruce came under fire in the media after the game, but he insisted that he has not lost the dressing room and recent results are down to a lack of quality rather than a lack of effort.
As per Chronicle Live, he said: “I do think the players are playing for us (Bruce and his coaching staff). Maybe they’re just not playing well enough. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have lost tonight.
“It’s certainly not down to a lack of effort or determination.”
Newcastle fans slam Steve Bruce’s comments
Many Newcastle fans were left scratching their heads over how Bruce can still have the dressing room onside given how badly they have been performing of late. One Magpies supporter even suggested they would be more worried if he had not lost the players as that would put the blame for results purely on his coaching abilities.
https://twitter.com/stephen_miller/status/1341654741785440256?s=19
Once a manager says‘ he retains the backing of the dressing room’ we all know he does not retain the backing of the dressing room
— Michael Bates (@michaelbates66) December 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/Margeandrews20/status/1341663156834328576?s=19
It’s even more worrying if he has got the backing, his coaching methods must be really bad if they’re playing for him.
— Lee Robson (@leerobson23) December 23, 2020
Not from what I’ve seen, players are going through the motions
— Chris Cossey (@Cosseycj) December 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/sluishmans/status/1341654308375449601?s=19
Yeah well you've lost the fanbase, the most by any manager we have had in recent times https://t.co/SoePX0WrvS
— Rob Allen (@RobertAllen97) December 23, 2020
