Guernsey Press

Newcastle have to be ready for relegation scrap to go to the wire – Steve Bruce

Bruce’s side moved up to 16th after a dour 0-0 draw at West Brom.

Published
Last updated

Boss Steve Bruce believes Newcastle must be ready for their survival fight to go to the wire after drawing at West Brom.

The Magpies battled to a dull 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns to move up to 16th in the Premier League.

A point did little to seriously aid either club’s survival fight but the Magpies will at least be happier to ensure Albion failed to gain ground.

It ended goalless at The Hawthorns
It ended goalless at The Hawthorns (Michael Steele/PA)

Newcastle climbed a point above Brighton to put another turbulent week behind them after Matt Ritchie’s clash with Bruce and the loss of Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin to injury, but the Magpies boss conceded it may take until the final day to survive.

Bruce said: “We have to be ready for it, we hope not and hope we can pick up enough points. But we have shown signs we are doing OK after a dismal run of games.

Joelinton could not find a way through the West Brom defence
Joelinton could not find a way through the West Brom defence (Michael Steele/PA)

“We are disappointed we didn’t win but the one thing which was vitally important was we didn’t get beaten, with the problems we have had over the past five or six days and more importantly the injuries.

“The reason why we got a point was the togetherness and attitude. We lacked a bit of quality but without the big players the team had to roll up their sleeves and take a point if that’s what it was going to be.”

Darnell Furlong’s last-ditch block from Joelinton’s cross stopped Ryan Fraser having a far-post tap in while Mbaye Diagne shot over and forced Martin Dubravka into a smart stop in the first half.

Matt Phillips skied over soon after the break but the Baggies could not find a winner and needed Sam Johnstone to turn Joe Willock’s drive wide on the hour.

Any winner would have been unfair though as neither side deserved the victory in a low quality game which underlined why both have struggled all season.

Albion boss Allardyce said: “I sound like a record which is stuck, looking back to the chances we missed in the last four or five games. I can’t knock the lads too much because of the effort after playing against the odds on Thursday.

Both teams battled to a point
Both teams battled to a point (Gareth Copley/PA)

“It means we have to win the next game to stay alive. It’ll mean at one stage we will have to win every single game that’s left.

“The performances have become a part of our DNA, we are tactically aware, the performances are at a high level, our fitness has improved. The only thing which has been missing is the quality of finishing.”

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.