'A word of praise for Steve Bruce'  – Newcastle United boss got his tactics just right at Bournemouth, according to our Fan Panel

Newcastle United produced their best performance of the Premier League season at Bournemouth last night – that’s the view of the Shields Gazette Fan Panel.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Valentino Lazaro of Newcastle United scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on July 01, 2020 in Bournemouth, England.BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Valentino Lazaro of Newcastle United scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on July 01, 2020 in Bournemouth, England.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Valentino Lazaro of Newcastle United scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on July 01, 2020 in Bournemouth, England.

And, not only that, manager Steve Bruce deserves some praise for getting his tactics spot on, having got them so wrong against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Here our panellists from last night – Neil Mitchell, Pete Redding and Steve Hastie – pick out their key points from the 4-1 – and save particular credit for Bruce, and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey.

Neil Mitchell – @geordiedentist

Thoughts on the performance?

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“A typically Newcastle United way to end but we really can't complain can we? The most relaxed and dominant performance of the season. I'll take more of those kind of performances against similar opposition as the season comes to a close. West Ham the next one.”

Stand out player?

“Shelvey has totally bossed this midfield. Saying that, the whole side looked totally relaxed.”

Steve Hastie – @oldheatonian

What did you take from the game?

“How good was that? While the creative players have taken all the credit so far, defensively we looked solid and in Nabil Bentalab and Jonjo Shelvey they have received lots of support when needed. A solid and relaxed team display.”

Did Steve Bruce get things right with his tactics after the Man City criticism?

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“How good was that! A word of praise for Bruce. He has certainly got a performance out of his team. While critics will point to how poor Bournemouth have been that shouldn’t take anything away from what has been an emphatic away win.”

Pete Redding – @dubai_geordie

Best performance of the season from NUFC?

“A virtual standing ovation from this house in Dubai. Credit to them all a superb 3 points and display...”

And what did you make of the opposition? Relegation fodder?

“When the ref used to blow up early in one-sided school games. That's what Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was praying for the longer the second half went on.”