Teem of the day PUKKI HAT-TRICK ROCKS BRUCE
STEVE BRUCE took his dream job when he quit Sheffield Wednesday for his beloved Newcastle.
But exactly a month after his appointment, that dream looks to have turned i nto a nightmare.
This was a shambolic away performance as Teemu Pukki’s hat-trick gave Norwich an easy victory.
And to complete the most abysmal of days for the long suffering Toon Army, their £ 40million record- signing Joelinton limped off with a hip injury, with Bruce unsure of the severity.
The Geordie ( below) said: “It was hugely disappointing in the manner of it. I cannot accept the manner of it, with and without the ball.
“Make no mistake, we didn’t do enough. It was the basics.
“I wouldn’t question the desire, you don’t want to go out and play badly.
“We knew all week we were coming to
Norwich, their first home game back in the Premier League and got caught up in it.
“They’re not bad players, but you need to be good players in the Premier League.
“I will go back to work this week and will see if we can get better.”
While Norwich – especially Pukki – were sublime, Newcastle were pathetic, especially at the back with Fabian Schar on the receiving end of numerous rollickings from captain Jamaal Lascelles.
The Toon were all over the place from the off and were only saved f rom total embarrassment by keeper Martin Dubravka.
The Slovakian denied Todd Cantwell from close range after Pukki had been fouled in the area by Schar, but stayed on his feet to deliver the cross.
Pukki had three further chances, two of them brilliantly saved by Dubravka, while, at the other end, Joelinton should have done better with a header on a rare Newcastle chance.
But there was no doubt Norwich deser v e d t heir advantage on 32 minutes as Pukki volleyed home after Lascelles’ header away from Emi Buendia’s cross fell invitingly. Newcastle responded through Schar’s header, kept out by former Magpies stopper Tim Krul - and briefly threatened at the start of the second half.
But the game was up on 63 minutes as Pukki fired home low from just inside the area, having been set up by Cantwell’s driving run. And, 12 minutes later, it got even worse for the visitors as Cantwell exposed more poor Newcastle defending and fed Pukki who took full advantage.
The Finn now has four goals in two Premier League matches and 34 in 47 matches in total for the club.
And this special first treble for Norwich confirms he can deliver in the top flight.
Newcastle did at least pull one back in injury time as Jonjo ■ Norwich are unbeaten in their last seven home Premier League games against Newcastle United (W5 D2 L0)
■ Newcastle have won just two of their last Shelvey found space in the area, but that will not appease their followers, many of whom left way before the final whistle.
It may get worse for pointless Bruce, too, with away trips to Spurs and Liverpool among their next three league games.
Canaries boss Daniel Farke said: “It was pretty special. Carrow Road was rocking. We were like thunderstorms in the first half with many lightnings. It was a top-class performance 29 Premier League away games in August (D10 L17) and are winless in their last eight. ■ Daniel Farke is the first Norwich boss to win his opening home PL game since August 1992 from Teemu – and what he does for the team spirit is so important, too. He was clinical in his finishes.”