We’re not safe yet, Magpies boss warns
STEVE Bruce has warned his Newcastle United players they still aren’t safe from the drop – despite the resounding win over Sheffield United,
The Toon boss made it four clean sheets in a row at home and the 3-0 win ensured Bruce could enjoy back-to-back victories in the Premier League.
But despite being 11 points clear of the drop zone, Bruce asked for caution in the aftermath of the game.
He said: “We can’t take anything for granted because you never know. The points return with eight games to go.
“I can’t be more pleased. If somebody said with eight games to go that we’re two points behind Arsenal, I wouldn’t quite believe it.”
Bruce now takes his side into a clash against his old club Aston Villa, where a win would take him beyond the 40-point mark.
The former Man United skipper said: “I based the team [on Sunday] on how physically we had looked over the last two or three weeks, and of course the one thing you are going to have to do, all of us, is make a few changes.
“Whether it’s this Wednesday or for next Sunday or the following Wednesday, to play the amount of games we’re playing in a month, we’re going to have to rotate a little bit.”
But while Bruce has one eye on getting to the 40-point mark he knows that there could be bigger prizes on offer than just survival.
He said: “The result gives me that option.
“As I said on Friday, let’s try to chase down Burnley if we can.
“We want to try to finish as strongly as we possibly can.
“We’ve given ourselves a wonderful platform.
“If somebody had said with eight games to go we’d be two points behind Arsenal, I would have been saying, ‘That’s not quite achievable’.
“There’s a bit to do still, but we’re going in the right direction.
“Always when the new project starts to get off with a win is always vital.”
Steve Bruce started his role as Magpies head coach knowing he had big shoes to fill when succeeding Rafa Benitez last July.
His tactics were questioned and many thought he was not the man for the job. So far, Bruce’s record is decent and Newcastle are closing in on safety with eight games to go.
They have four more points than they did at the same stage last season and they are now 11 points above the relegation zone.
Mike Ashley did not make an appearance at the empty stadium but managing director Lee Charnley and club secretary Richard Hines were in the stands.
None of the current regime has commented or guided on takeover stories so it was pretty much as we were before lockdown.
As reported in the Chronicle, plans for next season’s recruitment drive are under way already, which will safeguard the club for next season