Steve Bruce proves Newcastle fans right once and for all - We tried to warn you, West Brom...

Newcastle United fans were slated by the media during Steve Bruce's time on Tyneside, with pundits up and down the country refusing to accept the concerns we raised on a weekly basis.

Despite claiming we would be his last job in management, the 61-year-old was named the new West Brom manager back in February. And guess what? They've gone downhill at a rate of knots ever since.

He picked them up in 5th last season - when most fans were hopeful of promotion back to the Premier League - and took them to 10th, but their start to the 2022/23 season has been dire.

With just one win in nine so far, a 3-2 defeat to Birmingham last night leaves them 20th in the Championship and closer to League One than a return to the top flight.

As a result, Bruce appears to be on the brink for the second time in the space of 12 months, with West Brom fans calling for him to be sacked after Wednesday night's defeat to their local rivals.

Here's some comments we picked up from Baggies fans on Twitter, which feel eerily similar to the sort of complaints we were making following our winless start to the season this time last year:

There’s no way Bruce should survive this. One win in nine. 20th place. Can’t defend. Hardly score. Bilic and Val got sacked for much less. He was dreadful last season and worse now. If it wasn’t for Gourlay being mates with him he wouldn’t have this job. No more excuses. He’s the problem.

Sack Bruce tonight. His team, his formation, his players, his tactics, his lack of motivation and apparently not his fault...

Terrible tactician, terrible man manager, terrible at controlling the squad fitness, awful with the players, always blaming them when things go wrong, hates the press when they question him, arrogant towards fans calling him out. Sack him.

I’m beginning to think you’re the problem Bruce lad. I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt, but you can't blame the players EVERY week. Take some responsibility!

Bruce says the same thing every week after a defeat. I could write his interviews.

Steve, you’re not up to it mate. Have some pride for once and quit rather than hanging on for the pay out.

He has no idea. Throws Livermore & Phillips on every game, what does he think they're gonna change??

Get him gone. Can't get a tune out of this side and constantly wants to put in crosses to a bloke who doesn't know how to jump. Get rid.

Time for Bruce to go. No real style of play, just hopes for individual brilliance from Jed to save his skin.

Sounds horribly familiar, doesn't it?

I feel for West Brom fans, I really do, but this really does prove - once again - that Newcastle United fans were right all along about Bruce.