Steve Bruce is desperate for Newcastle United to start building momentum against Leeds, and has fumed at some of the decisions given against his side this term, via Chronicle Live.
The Magpies welcome Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites to St James’ Park on Friday with both sides looking for a first win. Newcastle have opened the Premier League campaign with one draw and three defeats, while Leeds have two points from 12.
Bruce believes Newcastle can start to pick up points consistently once they have built some momentum. The Toon boss oversaw a dire run of two wins in 19 top-flight games last term. But ended the season taking five wins in their final eight games to steer clear of relegation.
Newcastle had two VAR decisions go against them during August’s 2-0 loss at Aston Villa. David Coote awarded the Magpies a penalty when Emiliano Martinez took Callum Wilson down inside the box. But the decision was overturned as Wilson was in an offside position.
VAR Jarred Gillett also later awarded Villa a penalty, after deciding Jamaal Lascelles could have avoided handling Tyrone Mings’ header. While VAR Mike Dean awarded Southampton a spot-kick to make it 2-2, after deeming Lascelles to have fouled Adam Armstrong.
The decisions still irk Bruce, who desperately wants Newcastle to start building momentum against Leeds.
“We’ve had some awful decisions with VAR and penalties, and all the rest of it,” Bruce said. “How quickly it spirals downwards, here. I’ve witnessed the other side.
“A win can do wonders and hopefully get us started, and hopefully we can build a little bit of momentum because we proved at the back end of the season with momentum behind a club like ours, it can only be a good thing.”
Can Bruce guide Newcastle to first win of the season against Leeds?
VAR decisions by Gillett against Aston Villa and Dean against Southampton have hindered the Toon’s start to the league season. Bruce now desperately wants to see his Newcastle players respond against Leeds to try and get their season progressing.
The Toon will also hope that VAR decisions do not interfere with their bid to build some momentum. But Wilson was, albeit marginally, offside when Gillett overturned the decision to award a penalty. While Lascelles’ arm was also in an unnatural position at the other end.
Lascelles also left Dean with little choice but to recommend a penalty for Southampton. Bruce will need to iron out those mistakes for Newcastle to take a first win of the season against Leeds. Then, from there, look to start building momentum to move up the table.
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