BLACK & WHITE HOUSE
Bruce denies he’s being dealing in ’fake news’ hitting back: I never said we were the great entertainers
STEVE BRUCE admits he has never claimed N ewc a s t l e are entertaining – after being hit with stats showing his team are boring.
The Premier League’s own numbers show Bruce’s side have had the fewest shots ( 72) and shots on target (21) of any side in the division.
Only Crystal Palace (with 37.8 per cent) – who they play tonight – have worse possession stats, with Toon having the ball 38.5 per cent during games. That fell to 28 per cent in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea (strikers Andy Carroll and Joelinton, right).
The Magpies are ranked top for soaking up pressure with Karl Darlow making the most saves (41). Jamaal Lascelles’ defence have made the most blocks (42) and, with 202, the jointmost clearances with Sheffield United.
Bruce has set up his team to be difficult to beat and stay in games with five at the back recently. It’s a tough watch and infuriating many fans.
He will switch to o a back four against Palace ace w ith Ca l lum m Wilson fit again. . However, three positive Covid tests have hit his squad this week.
Asked if he was as like Donald Trump p (above) in denying g the obvious about his team, Bruce e explained: “I have ve never said Newcastle stle were entertaining. I have never said that.
“I will let other people think if we have progressed or not. You can only judge that on results and where you are at the end of the season.
“What I have said is where we finished last year is about par for the course of where we are.
“I think that is accepted by everyone else. My aim is to try and take us forward. That is not going to be overnight because we can’t simply go and do that.
“We have added to the squad well w this summer, a littl little bit, and that is th the way forward. W We can’t make any r radical changes q quickly because we h have not got the mo money to do that.
“I am not happy w with the last two g games against C Che lsea and S Southampton, the w way we played. “B “But the way we played against Everton del i g h t ed me. We thoroughly deserved to win the match. However, we certainly have to improve.”
PALACE: Guaita, Clyne, Kouyate, Dann, Van Aanholt, Eze, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend, Ayew, Batshuayi. NEWCASTLE: Darlow, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis , Hayden, Shelvey, Joelinton, Longstaff, SaintMaximin, Wilson
12.30pm Burnley v Everton (BT) 3pm Man City v Fulham (BT) 5.30pm West Ham v Man Utd (Sky) 8pm Chelsea v Leeds Utd (Sky) 12.30pm Wolves v Aston Villa (BT) 3pm Newcastle Utd v West Brom (Sky) 5.30pm Man Utd v Man City (Sky) 8pm Everton v Chelsea (BT)
12pm Southampton v Sheff Utd (Sky) 2.15pm Crystal Palace v Spurs (Sky) 4.30pm Fulham v Liverpool (Sky) 7.15pm Arsenal v Burnley (Sky) 7.15pm Leicester City v Brighton (Amazon) 6pm Arsenal v Southampton (Amazon) 6pm Leeds Utd v Newcastle Utd (Amazon) 6pm Leicester City v Everton (Amazon) 8pm Fulham v Brighton (Amazon) 8pm Liverpool v Spurs (Amazon)
8pm West Ham v Crystal Palace (Amazon))
6pm Aston Villa v Burnley (Amazon) 8pm Sheffield Utd v Man Utd (Amazon))
12.30pm Crystal Palace v Liverpool (BT) 3pm Southampton v Man City (Amazon) 5.30pm Everton v Arsenal (Sky) 8pm Newcastle Utd v Fulham (Sky)
SUNDAY DECEMBER 20
12pm Brighton v Sheffield Utd (Sky) 2.15pm Spurs v Leicester City (Sky) 4.30pm Man Utd v Leeds Utd (Sky) 7.15pm West Brom v Aston Villa (BT)
5.30pm Burnley v Wolves (Sky) 8pm Chelsea v West Ham (Sky)
12.30pm Leicester City v Man Utd (BT) 3pm Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (BBC) 3pm Fulham v Southampton (Sky) 5.30pm Arsenal v Chelsea (Sky) 8pm Man City v Newcastle Utd (BT) 8pm Sheffield Utd v Everton (BT)
12pm Leeds Utd v Burnley (Sky) 2.15pm West Ham v Brighton (Sky) 4.30pm Liverpool v West Brom (Sky) 7.15pm Wolves v Spurs (Sky)
3pm Crystal Palace v Leicester City (Amazon)
5.30pm Chelsea v Aston Villa (Amazon) 8pm Everton v Man City (Amazon)
6pm Brighton v Arsenal (Amazon) 6pm Burnley v Sheffield Utd (Amazon) 6pm Southampton v West Ham (Amazon) 6pm West Brom v Leeds Utd (Amazon) 8pm Man Utd v Wolves (Amazon)
6pm Spurs v Fulham (Amazon)
8pm Newcastle Utd v Liverpool (Amazon)