Steve Bruce’s Newcastle XI against West Brom caused quite a stir.
It was an unambitious side that seemed set up to leave the Hawthorns with just a point.
Jeff Hendrick returned for the first time since his idiotic red card against Southampton, while Bruce failed to name a recognised striker.
What transpired was an uninspiring 0-0 draw that failed to lift any of the pressure on Bruce’s shoulders.
We’ve now been unable to win away from home against the bottom and second bottom side. Meanwhile, Fulham have just gone to the home of the champions and won.
Bruce had a chance to be ambitious and try something new with his lineup on Sunday. But instead, he set his side up to avoid defeat in the absence of his three best attackers.
Even the arrival of Dwight Gayle in the second half was uninspiring, as Bruce had the forward playing in an uncomfortable midfield role.
Then to top it all off, Andy Carroll came on for the last 30 seconds. He was literally used to run the clock down.
However, for all of these errors, Bruce did get one decision right – the return of Paul Dummett.
Dummett shows Lewis how it’s done
For the first time since the embarrassing defeat to Sheffield United, Paul Dummett started for the Magpies.
He took the place of Jamal Lewis, who has looked well short of confidence in recent weeks.
The 23-year-old looked like a brilliant acquisition in the summer, arriving for £15million from Norwich.
However, if anything he’s regressed over the course of the season. Defensively he leaves a lot to be desired, while his ability going forwards has been stifled the more his confidence suffers.
Dummett’s return to the team has been a long time coming, and he certainly proved it was the right decision.
There was one moment in the second half where Ainsley Maitland-Niles got past Dummett, but that was the only lapse in what was a solid return to the starting XI.
Dummett is a defender. Everything he does is to ensure the opposition doesn’t score. There’s nothing flashy about what he does.
In all honesty, I can’t remember him even crossing the halfway line against West Brom. But that’s okay, because he’s a defender.
While Newcastle’s attacking efforts on Sunday were pitiful, the defensive exploits of Dummett must be applauded.
The 29-year-old has forever been an unsung hero at St James’ Park, doing the dirty work in an era where full backs are judged on the assists they get or the goals they score.
Dummett is old school, but he’s exactly what we need right now. And until Lewis proves that he can be relied upon defensively, we must stick with Dummett.
Lewis must respond and justify investment
Offensively, Lewis is clearly miles ahead of Dummett. But in the midst of a relegation battle, we can’t afford to be sloppy at the back.
Lewis has slipped up on too many occasions recently. He struggled away to Chelsea and Manchester United, and got some of the blame from Bruce after the Wolves draw.
The frustrating thing with Lewis is that he’s the kind of player who Rafa Benitez could have improved. But alas, Brucey is the manager, who continues to oversee the regression of so many Magpies.
We spent big money on a Lewis last summer, but it’s clear that the most reliable option is the Geordie who didn’t cost us a penny.
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