Bruce makes his point with best PL start
NEWCASTLE United are in their best shape in terms of points gained after 11 matches since they returned to the Premier League.
The Magpies sit on 17 points after 11 games following the 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion thanks to goals from Miguel Almiron and Dwight Gayle.
They find themselves three points better off at the same point as the 2017/18 season when they finished 10th when Rafa Benitez collected 14 points 11 games into the campaign.
United’s poor start to the 2018/19 season resulted in the Spaniard’s team delivering a paltry six points at the same 11-match stage when a victory over Watford in early November secured their first win of the campaign.
Bruce has also bettered his own start to his first season and is currently five points better off the 12 point total after 11 games last term.
Despite some criticism, Newcastle are in their best form since 2013 when they also picked up 17 points from the first 11 games on their way to a 10th-place finish under Alan Pardew.
Incredibly, Newcastle have managed to take more than 17 points after 11 games just ONCE since the 2002 when Pardew guided the Magpies to a whopping 25 points by that stage.
It is the late, late show for Newcastle again
Just when it looked like United were going to have to settle for a point at Crystal Palace in their last outing, Joelinton and Callum Wilson saved the day.
United acted a little quicker than that against West Brom in one sense but their record for scoring late in the day is becoming a feature for Bruce’s side this term.
57% of their goals have arrived in the final 15 minutes of matches, eight out of 14, and that’s the highest ratio in the competition!
Few can beat Alan Shearer at Newcastle
Even a goal after 19 seconds was not enough to bag the quickest in Premier League history for the Magpies for Miguel Almiron. Of course, Shearer clinched that record in 2003 when a heavy touch from a Manchester City defender ended up in Big Al’s path and he lashed the ball home after just 10 seconds.
It is a record which will take some beating - but Almiron’s strike was the quickest in the topflight so far this season.
Dwight Gayle picks up where he left off after lockdown
The striker had not even kicked a ball in the Premier League this season after a summer injury sustained in pre-season during a friendly game against Crewe.
Gayle had netted four goals towards the end of last season.
As he entered the field against his old side West Brom it felt like there were headlines waiting to be written - and he did not disappoint.
Gayle has banged in 34 goals for Newcastle in both the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship and bearing in mind he also netted 23 for the Baggies it takes him to 57 goals in four years during which he has had lengthy spells out injured.