Newcastle emerged from the break unchanged after a dismal 1-0 first half though Fabian Schar pushed forward into the midfield.
The change made a slight difference as Newcastle were able to keep the ball more and string together a few passes. The early improvement, however, didn’t produce much in the final third apart from a tempting Saint-Maximin cross that found no takers in the box.
Bruce countered a double Manchester City change in the 64th minute with one of his own. Off came Andy Carroll, who had just picked up a yellow, and Miguel Almiron for Joelinton and Dwight Gayle.
It should have paid immediate dividends as City lost possession deep in their end on a wayward pass from Nicolas Otamendi that fell to Allan Saint-Maximin. The Frenchman was able to find Dwight Gayle in the box, but the striker missed a tap in from 10 yards out and somehow put the ball over the crossbar.
As fate would have it, Manchester City made it 2-0 soon afterward through Raheem Sterling. The winger found the back of the net from the edge of the area after cutting inside from the left.
Bruce made a second double substitution in the 74th minute bringing Valentino Lazaro and DeAndre Yedlin on for Saint-Maximin and Danny Rose. Javier Manquillo moved to left wing-back with Yedlin coming in on the right.
The final change was Matty Longstaff coming on for Isaac Hayden just four minutes later as Steve Bruce seemed to be conserving some of his stars for Bournemouth on Wednesday.
The second goal killed the game especially coming so soon after the dreadful miss from Gayle. There was a slight improvement in the second half but this was a walk in the park for Manchester City this evening.
317 comments so far
The Hit Man & Her
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #1Hi. My name’s Reality. Sorry I’m late.
lochinvar
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #2First and probably last of the night
Nothing else to say
TheTinman
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #3De Bruyne looks like he’s been for a stroll to the corner shop. So easy
TheTinman
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #4I’m going to save my rant for tomorrow
toon kk
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #5Shame we’re out but it was inevitable against City. Good run though. Better luck next season.
Aces-of-Eights
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #6Last 10 mins did we even try. No risks nothing. Embarassment. Sack bruce and overhaul this team apart from asm and hayden and lascelles. Cant wait for season to end
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #7Shame we set up the way we did in the first half, it was exactly how bad we played in the first 6 months of the season, its a clear reminder why we should never go back to the 541 formation ever again.
.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #8We had 1 ASM city had 10, no contest!
clinath@ed
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #9Nothing to look forward too now but the takeover……god it’s depressing
West Lancs Geordie
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #10Takeover must happen or the Club dies – sad to say.
The Hit Man & Her
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #11What actually killed the game was Mike Ashley buying us 13 years ago. We are not going to be of the level required to compete for anything meaningful in this league with him here. So what now? Push on for 10h place? Wow. And some fans say this is a manager to get behind. Another floor mat coach.
nufcursed
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #12We should thank Steve Bruce for showing the new owners he ain’t the right man for the job
Kevin Vegan
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #13Reality? What’s that? Takeover announcement any minute btw. The Saudis have decided that they can’t wait another day to announce to the world that they just bought Dwight Gayle + co after that one
West Lancs Geordie
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:29 PM
Comment #14Yeah Essex and City will probably have ASM next season if Takeover doesn’t happen
bettyswallocks
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Comment #15Dwight Gayle has proved beyond all doubt that he is not capable of playing at this level. He needs to stick to Deliverance playing a banjo.
We were definitely back in the game had he done what he was supposed to do. We were pressing them high up the pitch and we were gaining momentum. We would have been right back in it with a proper chance.
Hang your head in shame Mr . Gayle.
The Hit Man & Her
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Comment #16First half sit back tactic was inane. I hardly have the words for how bad that was.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Comment #17We certainly do not want to show Bournemouth that much respect!
sing in the corner
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Comment #18Wow.. the pen incident..
– just seen another replay angle. Schar actually shoves him in the back twice, blatantly,just to make sure. Just wow.
hibbit
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Comment #19piss poor
The Hit Man & Her
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:31 PM
Comment #20I reckon joelinton would have scored that one ha ha
nufcursed
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:31 PM
Comment #21ASM is our best player but top clubs won’t be after him, he’s still too much of a loose canon. He will sign for a bigger club like Southampton or so
onmeedsun
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:32 PM
Comment #22There is no point existing if you feel you have to set your team up like Bruce did first half. We played on the back foot so when we did get the ball there was no one to pass to. Why are our players so poor on the ball. Even our midfielders couldn’t get it on the floor quickly to play.
ShirebrookToon
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:32 PM
Comment #23Disappointing
catchy in norway
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:34 PM
Comment #24Nice to meet you riality, have you met my friend, surrender.
That is exactly what we did.
We are not going to be relegated, so go out and at least have a go.
They are a better team, but make them work for the win.
Who needs fans if they are going to be like you
onmeedsun
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:34 PM
Comment #25I’m amazed that we look like staying up with the strikers on our books. Have we got any?
West Lancs Geordie
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:34 PM
Comment #26Well said Nufcursed but I think they already know that. We lost because all this takeover talk has unsettled the players just like the plane with the banner over the Ethiad did to the Burnley players the other night.
Jib
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:34 PM
Comment #27What time id MotD 2 ?
Jib
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:35 PM
Comment #28is even
Northumbrian
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:35 PM
Comment #29Brassed off!! I had 3-0 city and kdb to score 1st.
jimiley
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:35 PM
Comment #30We did not engage in first half. Sat in box.
It was not a football match. It was a con.
Munster Mag
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Comment #31Tsunki at 16. Never see that???
Rafa did exactly the same v City, with shelvey hoofing the ball at the keeper from kick off. Neville berated him for such a disgraceful approach. But because it was benitez you said nothing
Kevin Vegan
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Comment #32I’m even nervous for the trip to Bournemouth after that steaming pile of disappointment. Good job we have a decent gap above the drop zone.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Comment #33I’m not by any means blaming Bruce for tonight, not in the slightest whatsoever. But why the foot anyone wants him here to spearhead a new dawn is seriously beyond me.
DaveD1000
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Comment #3410.30
jimiley
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:37 PM
Comment #35Hey jiblets
You have some brass neck to come on here. At least you can earn some coin on here for a few more years. It must be better than stacking shelves at Shirebrook on zero hours.
geordietom
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:39 PM
Comment #36ok we lost played shite in the first half , improved slightly in the second gayles miss wor lass would of buried it but thats football . move on to wednesday …
DaveD1000
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:39 PM
Comment #37I am not clever enough with words to express how crap that was. Invite Citeh to have a go in the first half. Tactical brilliance. I would never have even thought of that.
dougie
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #38Moonraker.Joelinton will be here next season whatever happens.He was never a striker before he came and he isn’t one now but he will get better,wether he will develop enough to stay I’m not sure.It wasn’t so long ago Sterling was getting called a donkey who couldn’t hit a barn door.
West Lancs Geordie
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #39On me heed Sun- Yeah we have three, one well past his sell by date , one who we have known for three seasons is not Premiership and a £40 M wastrel of a centre forward who has turned out to be a right winger with no goals in him. I think that pretty much sums them up
Grumpy
Jun 28, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #40Bruce has to go, the outcome was visible 5 minutes in. Disgraceful.