Slaven Bilic delivers verdict on Newcastle United

Steve Bruce's side beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 yesterday to move up to 11th place in the Premier League.

Miguel Almiron netted with just 20 seconds on the clock, but Newcastle – whose preparations had been disrupted by a Covid-19 outbreak at the club which saw the training ground closed and one game postponed – tired, and that strike was cancelled out by a goal from Darnell Furlong in the second half.

Gayle scored the winner against his old club – the striker spent the season before last on loan at West Brom – in the 82nd minute.

Callum Wilson and Joelinton were up front for Newcastle, and visiting manager Bilic praised the “physicality and quality” of Bruce's attacking players after the game.

"It was a game of little margins in the end," Bilic told the BBC. "They scored incredibly early from a situation, from which we had to do better, and after that their physicality and quality up front was better than ours.

"But in the second half it was more a change of bravery and mentality, and we were good – we scored the goal but we didn't create enough clearcut chances, and again we conceded a goal that we have to stop."

Bilic is under pressure at second-bottom West Brom.

Asked about his future, Bilic said: “It’s not a question for me, as I’m doing my job – and I don’t get those signals or that information.”

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