'If I was a Newcastle United fan...' - Watford star Troy Deeney questions Steve Bruce's approach after Brighton defeat

Magpies fans watched on in disgust as Bruce’s men suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium against a relegation rival.

Pre-game, United had the opportunity to go five points clear of the bottom three with a victory but instead were dominated by the Seagulls – registering just one shot on target.

Deeney, speaking to talkSPORT, was also left unimpressed by Newcastle’s approach after their winless run extended to six matches.

“When you look at Newcastle, certainly in my lifetime, it was always entertaining football,” Deeney admitted.

"Now, I don’t mean to be nasty and criticise the work Steve Bruce is doing but they don’t really go to win. They always go for a ‘we’ll draw or try and knick it’ (approach).

"Joelinton out on the right-wing suggests he is trying to say ‘look, I’m playing with attacking intent but this is what I’ve got’.

"For years now at Newcastle, there has been a lot of uncertainty around the ownership and transfers – it’s all coming to the forefront now when you’ve Callum Wilson and (Allan) Saint-Maximin injured. There’s not that much depth there.

"(Isaac) Hayden went off on Saturday and there wasn’t much to come on and change the game. When they were one or two-nil down, you didn’t think they were going to go on and get back into it.”

Fans demanded Bruce, who insists he won’t walk away from his head coach role, was sacked after the defeat, however Mike Ashley is sticking by his man.

Newcastle are next in action after the international break when Tottenham Hotspur visit St James’s Park.

Deeney continued: "Brighton weren’t playing great over the last couple of weeks but they always had a style of play and a direction they wanted to incorporate and ultimately that is how they ended up winning.

“If I was a Newcastle fan, I’d be disappointed that I don’t really know how we’re going to win games. It feels like ‘as long as we don’t lose, we’ll be alright – that’s the kind of feeling I get from it.”

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