BRUCE: FANS WILL HELP TO FIGHT DROP
STEVE BRUCE is willing to front up angry Newcastle fans that want to see him sacked.
The head coach is hoping
Geordies are allowed back into St James’ Park this season – despite thousands voting that he should stand aside as manager.
Newcastle’s run of two wins from 20 games has left Bruce with little support among fans as they fight relegation against Spurs today.
But, ahead of welcoming Jose Mourinho to Newcastle, Bruce said: “I would desperately want the fans inside the ground. Without them, we’re just like every other club.
“When we see the internationals and we see four or five thousand at a game, it makes a difference.
“I would want the supporters in because that’s what it’s all about. We’ve missed them dreadfully.
“I’m sure at this particular time they’ll get behind the team and that’s the most important thing now.
“We’re in a scrap, we’re in a fight – let’s get ready for it. Certainly, the supporters would play their part in it – I’m absolutely convinced they would – to try and drag us over the line in certain situations.”
Bruce has blamed Toon’s struggles since February on being without injured Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin.
He added: “The difficulty is, of course, when you are losing your big players at the top end of the pitch, then I believe that every team in the Premier League would struggle if you took their front three away. And, unfortunately, over the last few weeks, we’ve been without them.
“To see Allan back performing, playing and training, it gives everybody a lift. Callum is in and around it as well, Miggy
Almiron 100 per cent fit.”
Bruce added that there can be no slacking against Spurs, saying: “We need to have a performance to give ourselves any chance of beating Tottenham. That’s the crucial thing. We need to go and perform and I’m quietly confident that we’ll do that.”