Newcastle United desperately needed some creativity against West Brom.
They didn’t have Miguel Almiron or Allan Saint-Maximin, while Callum Wilson was also out.
All week, fans had been pondering how Steve Bruce would aim to get three points out of arguably the biggest game of the season so far.
Would Dwight Gayle start? Maybe Andy Carroll would get a chance? There were lots of calls for Elliot Anderson to return to the first-team.
In the end, Gayle and Carroll were on the bench. As for Anderson, he didn’t even make the matchday squad.
Considering Newcastle’s limited options in attack, it seemed all but certain that the local lad would be involved at the Hawthorns. But alas, he was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, Joe Willock was pushed further up the pitch to accommodate the return of Jeff Hendrick. The summer signing was woeful, and was replaced early in the second half by Dwight Gayle.
The longer the game went on, the weaker Newcastle’s attack got. It was another inept performance from Bruce’s side, as we hung on for a point against the second worst team in the league.
We needed someone with a bit of invention – a bit of craft. That’s exactly what Anderson has got. He’s shown it for the under-23s, and he’s looked comfortable in his limited minutes with the first-team.
Whether he would have made the difference against West Brom or not, it was a risk worth taking. But the Magpies didn’t take a risk all day.
It was an embarrassing performance, as Newcastle got the point that they came for. It wasn’t enough, as it leaves us just a point clear of the drop zone.
With our three best attackers out injured, this seemed like the perfect chance for Anderson. Sadly, Bruce didn’t even give him the opportunity to warm the bench.
Fan fury as Elliot Anderson sits at home
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