Bruce relies on a Gayle-force finish
NO wonder Steve Bruce spoke of his gutsy players winning “in adversity”.
Dwight Gayle capped a traumatic coronavirus-hit fortnight for Newcastle with a stunning headed winner – to heap pressure on West Brom boss Slaven Bilic.
Newcastle were robbed of six potential starters after a fortnight of debilitating disruption but they showed true mettle wshen it was needed.
Boss Bruce said: “I can’t give enough credit to the players – we have come through adversity.
“The way the virus was ripping through everyone was frightening, and these are young lads too. It was a huge decision to close training, but in hindsight a great one which has enabled us to play today.
“We have a huge month coming up and could do with a healthy squad. We sacrificed the full backs and went for the win. It worked – sometimes it doesn’t.”
Bruce deserved his own pat on the back for two late substitutions that swung the game.
Striker Gayle, in his first outing of the season, showed how lethal he can be when he powered home a near-post header in the 82nd minute, from a cross by fellow substitute Jacob Murphy.
“I am delighted for Dwight, the way he has work to get back to fitness,” said Bruce.
Newcastle had taken the lead with the fastest goal in the Premier League this season, which arrived after inside 20 seconds – West Brom somehow turning their own kick-off into an immediate deficit.
Jamal Lewis pinged a ball up the wing to feed Callum Wilson. The Geordies’ top scorer bullied Branislav Ivanovic off the ball and slid to Joelinton.
The Brazilian got his second assist in as many games passing across an empty box for Almiron to finish.
Full-back Darnell Furlong put the Baggies level and a point looked on until Gayle struck and ended all hope of a point.
Defeat heaps pressure on Bilic whose side, who lack consistent quality in attack and are understandably short on confidence, are stuck in the bottom three.
Asked if he’d still be in charge next week, under-pressure Bilic said: “It is not a question for me. I am doing my job. I have no signals, information or talks. I prepared for this game.
“It was frustrating, a game of little margins again. It is about the result but we showed again we are in the game to the end and showed character mentality and that the team is very much alive.
“Newcastle scored incredibly early and we had to do better stopping it.
‘‘ Their physicality up front was better than ours and that gave them a few dangerous situations.
‘‘In the second-half we showed bravery and we were good.
‘‘We were making some good chances, but they scored again and we could not come back.”