Newcastle’s win at Tottenham on Sunday was a fantastic result for the club and Steve Bruce, which was as deserved as it was unexpected, with the display being a masterclass in defending a lead.
Yes, I mentioned masterclass and Steve Bruce in the same sentence.
That performance was up there with the best defensive displays during Rafa Benitez’s time at the club, and of course, being able to play that way was etched into the footballing brains of many of the players by the Spaniard.
But credit must be given to Bruce, for getting his tactics spot on, and whereas his substitution against Arsenal cost us the game, bringing Christian Atsu on for the injured Allan Saint-Maximin changed the game – such was the influence of the diminutive Ghanaian.
While one result alone will not convince the many doubters over his appointment, it was at least a step in the right direction.
But it is not the defensive displays that Bruce could take from Rafa’s ‘How to get the fans on-side’ manual, it is something else that the Spanish maestro did week in, week out, whether we won, drew or lost.
In all three games, it has been noticeable that the players, as usual, go over to the away fans, or around the pitch to the home ones, applauding them, and thanking them for their support.
But Bruce has remained on the touchline, awaiting the players to shake their hands before going down the tunnel.
His predecessor would seek out the players on the pitch, while being one of the last people off it, as he went over to the fans to celebrate, or commiserate, with them.
Fan interaction is what made Rafa Benitez so special to Newcastle fans
It is one of the things that made his relationship with the Geordie fan-base so great. It is also something that Bruce should think about doing, if he ever wants to be mentioned by supporters in the same breath as the Spaniard.
As long as he refrains from trying to bond with them, he will remain on the outside in their eyes.
Sunday was the perfect opportunity for him to win some extra merit points.
No one in that away end – myself included – would have done anything than cheer him for a display deserving of praise.
If he could start interacting with them in a positive way, they will get behind him. And as long as results keep coming, they will give him the same reception following a loss, as they would following a magnificent win, like the one at Spurs.
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