Mags boss Bruce admits he got it 'hopelessly' wrong
Steve Bruce has bluntly admitted that he got his Newcastle United team wrong at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United beat Bruce's 10-man side 1-0 on Tuesday night thanks to a second-half penalty from Billy Sharp – and the “absolutely hopeless” firsthalf performance, and the full-time result, provoked an online backlash from fans on Tyneside.
Supporters were critical of what they felt was a defensive team selection against a team which hadn't won a Premier League fixture in 17 attempts.
“The one thing I can’t deny was that (against) Sheffield United, the first half in particular, was nowhere near the level of performance which is required in the Premier League,” said head coach Bruce, who retains the backing of owner Mike Ashley.
“What I can’t deny is that I pick the team and I take responsibility for it. It simply wasn’t good enough. I have to accept the criticism which has come our way, because we can’t accept that that performance was anywhere near where we should be.
“We throw that hand grenade in too often, and that’s what we have to try and erase if we possibly can.”
Asked if his team was too defensive, Bruce said: “Point taken. In hindsight, I picked the wrong team, so I have to come in front of you and accept that the performance wasn’t anywhere near good enough.
"In the previous three or four games, we’ve done OK in some big games against some big opposition.
“I picked the wrong team and I have to be responsible for that.”
Meanwhile, Bruce has not spoken to Mike Ashley in the wake of Newcastle’s shocking defeat.
Asked if he had spoken to Ashley, Bruce said: “No, but I have the CEO (managing director Lee Charnley) every day,” said Bruce.
“We have a conversation two, three times a day. That won’t change.
"No matter whether you’re me in charge of Newcastle, or whoever in the Premier League, we’re always under the pump in terms of results, and at the minute results haven’t been good enough.
"A few weeks ago it was (Mikel) Arteta. Frank (Lampard) is in the middle of it now. It’s part and parcel of the Premier League. If you don’t get enough results, you became ‘under pressure’.”