Steve Bruce reflects on his 'darkest' hour at Newcastle United – after bright response from players

The club is 11th in the Premier League, and two points off fifth-placed Sheffield United, after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth at St James’s Park.

Bruce’s team had been beaten 5-0 by Leicester City six weeks earlier, a defeat the 58-year-old labelled “embarrassing”.

Newcastle have taken 10 points from a possible 15 since that loss at the King Power Stadium.

And Bruce, United's head coach, said: “In management, I think it’s always your darkest (hour) when you take a beating like that. Over the years it’s how you respond. How do you react to being beaten by five? You have to rely on experience, and you want your team to respond. The response (against Bournemouth) was clear for everyone to see.”