Ex-Leeds United defender Danny Mills defends Steve Bruce and claims Newcastle United fans' expectations are 'over-inflated'

The Magpies were outplayed by Sheffield United during the 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane, a team that hadn’t won a league game all season prior to kick-off.

It extended United’s winless run to eight matches, which includes two cup exits to Brentford and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, respectively.

Manager Steve Bruce has come under significant pressure from Newcastle fans but according to Mills, the 60-year-old isn’t blessed with attacking talent, singling out Joelinton and Miguel Almiron.

Mills claimed supporters’ expectations are “over-inflated” and that because the Magpies are just four points off Leeds United and Arsenal, it shows Bruce’s men “aren’t a million miles away”.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Football Show, Mills said: “The expectation of Newcastle fans is maybe always a little over-inflated. They want to be playing exceptional football and they want to be challenging for European places.

“When you look at the players they’ve got, that’s not particularly realistic. Saint-Maximin has been out for some time now, he’s one of their most exciting players.

“When you talk about players on their bench, Joelinton, he’s not really an attacking threat is he? He doesn’t particularly add anything in terms of style to the game.

“Almiron has had plenty of opportunities time and time again and hasn’t really done it. OK, he works hard but he’s not creating chances, he’s not that flair player.”

Bruce’s cause was not helped by Ryan Fraser, who was sent off on the brink of half-time, but that does not hide how bad Newcastle were in the opening 45 minutes.

Billy Sharp’s 73rd-minute penalty then settled the game in the Blades’ favour.

He added: “Sheffield United came out and had nothing to lose in the first-half and they went for it and Newcastle found it difficult.

“You then get a needless, daft sending off just before half-time, and then you’re on the back foot, which makes it very difficult for Steve Bruce to turn that around.

“At the moment, Sheffield United are that wounded animal with nothing to lose and they can just go for it and that’s what they did - they put in a good performance first-half.

“It’s not like Newcastle have an abundance of attacking talent. They don’t have fantastic number 8s or number 10s available to them at the moment.

“They’ve had issues with Covid, they’ve got their issues with injuries. It’s a relatively small squad with not a huge amount of quality in it.

“They’re still only four points off Leeds, four points off Arsenal. A couple of wins, they did five games, six games ago in the league, they put back-to-back wins together.

“If they were to do that again, which is quite possible, then suddenly in this very strange congested season, they’re back up there.

“Everyone talks about how Leeds are playing some of the most exciting football we’ve ever seen in the Premier League and it’s brilliant to watch, but Newcastle are only four points behind, so they’re not a million miles away.”