Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce pulls no punches as he blasts his side's 'hopeless' performance at Sheffield United

Furious Steve Bruce, the Newcastle United manager, has blasted his side’s midweek performance in the 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United as ‘hopeless’.
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The 10-man Magpies were sunk by Billy Sharp’s second half penalty on Tuesday night but could have returned to the North East on the receiving end of a much heavier loss after Chris Wilder’s men spurned a host of first-half chances – sparking anger among the Toon Army back on Tyneside.

Victory for the Blades was their first in the league all season and brought back memories of the 2007-08 campaign when Newcastle were the only top flight team to be beaten by Derby County all season.

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The Rams could only muster 11 points from 38 games and still hold the record for registering the lowest haul in Premier League history, with the Blades’ troubles this season drawing comparisons to the strife Paul Jewell’s men endured 13 years ago.

Beating Newcastle was a baby step towards avoiding that unwanted statistic, but for Bruce it was a night to forget on his return to one of his former stomping grounds.

And he pulled no punches when he spoke to the media yesterday ahead of his side’s trip to Arsenal on Monday.

"We were absolutely frigging hopeless the other night," he said. '"Absolute s***e we were. I have to accept it. I've let them [the players] be comfortable but the gloves are off now. “I'm going to do it my way. I've said from day one the way I wanted to play and haven't done it enough."

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The former Blades and Sheffield Wednesday manager also shouldered some of the blame for the performance by admitting he chose the wrong team.

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"If I was a supporter, I'd be concerned as well after watching the first half at Sheffield United, we were absolutely hopeless," he said.

"Unfortunately, in my 18 months here, we've thrown that hand grenade in too often for my liking. It all blows up after that.

"In hindsight, I picked the wrong team. I have to accept the performance was nowhere near good enough and take responsibility."

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