With the game tied at 0-0, Newcastle made a positive substitution early in the second off.
The ineffective Jeff Hendrick went off, and in his place came a goalscorer in Dwight Gayle.
Hours after full time, and I’m still non the wiser as to where Gayle was meant to be playing.
It was a shock to see the striker not in the starting XI, following claims from the Athletic that he was likely to replace Miguel Almiron.
It seemed like the obvious choice, with Newcastle desperately needing goals.
But instead, Gayle remained on the bench.
And when he did eventually come on, he wasn’t even given a chance to get in a goalscoring position.
Was he playing as a centre midfielder? As a winger? Goodness knows. Either way, he wasn’t up front.
After the game, Steve Bruce claimed he didn’t want to change the system. In the end, it cost us.
The lack of ambition against one of the Premier League’s worst sides was shameful.
Bringing on Gayle could have been the boost we needed, but instead he was left to play in a strange position that didn’t suit him at all.
Newcastle desperately need to find a source of goals during the absence of Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson. Unsurprisingly, they’re not going to find it from Gayle sitting in front of the defence.
As each game passes buy, it becomes all the more baffling that Bruce is still Newcastle manager.
Gayle vs West Brom: Anywhere but up front
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