Fans in full cry show Bruce is starting to turn the tide
This is the Newcastle United Steve Bruce will have imagined when he thought about becoming the manager of his home-town club as his side came from behind to beat Bournemouth in front of an increasingly supportive home crowd.
It has been tough for Bruce, uncomfortable and downright hostile at times. This was no happy homecoming, more like an unwanted reunion. As the unpopular choice to replace the hugely popular Rafa Benitez, Bruce has struggled to win over a sceptical support but there are signs important progress has been made.
Not just with how the team plays, although Newcastle are finally showing they can offer an attacking threat to go with the defensive solidity that was a trademark of the Benitez years, but also in the way the fans responded to this performance, with noise and passion and a little bit of love
Coming from behind, with the crowd roaring them on, making just as much noise when the Magpies were clinging on late in the game as the visitors piled forward, this felt like a relationship being healed – the mistrust and misgivings that accompanied Bruce’s appointment look like being replaced by something more positive.
That Newcastle fell behind, Harry Wilson finishing off a clever short cordown ner routine, made this result all the more impressive. With the crowd unsettled and in danger of turning, Bournemouth were the better side for half an hour, while Newcastle were poor. But they did not wither or wilt, they rolled up their sleeves and got stronger and began to dominate.
They had already missed a number of chances, which included Allan SaintMaximin hitting the bar – when DeAndre Yedlin’s magnificent diving header brought them level. They took the lead early in the second half through Ciaran Clark and never really looked like they would relinquish it as they repelled wave after wave of attacks and repeatedly threatened to score a third with the speed and penetration of their counter attacks.
“The crowd will only respond when they see the team up and at them and we are edging towards that,” said Bruce. “Since the debacle at Leicester, they’ve rolled up their sleeves and really dug in. It was a difficult opening 25 minutes, but I was delighted with the attitude and spirit they showed.”