Tottenham defender Ben Davies has insisted the team’s commitment cannot be called into question in their defeat to Vitesse Arnhem. However, Davies says the players selected to face Vitesse all […]
STEVE Bruce has left his position as Newcastle head coach by mutual consent, the Premier League club have announced.
His departure comes 13 days after the club’s takeover by a Saudi-led consortium.
A club statement said: “Newcastle United can confirm that Steve Bruce has left his position as head coach by mutual consent.
“He leaves the Magpies after more than two years in charge, having steered the club to 13th and 12th-place finishes in the Premier League and reaching the quarter-final stage in both the Emirates FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his tenure.
“Newcastle United would like to place on record its gratitude to Steve for his contribution and wishes him well for the future.”
Bruce’s assistant Graeme Jones will take charge of the team for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace with the Magpies still awaiting their first Premier League win of the season and sitting just one place off the foot of the table.
The statement continued: “Graeme Jones will lead the team on an interim basis, starting with Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, and will be supported by the coaching team of Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence, Ben Dawson and Simon Smith.
“The process of recruiting a new head coach is under way and an appointment will be announced in due course. The club will not be making further comment at this time.”
DETERMINED Jan Bednarek insisted the “tougher period” of not starting for Saints during the beginning of the season gave him an extra boost.
The Poland international played just 45 minutes of Saints’ opening four top-flight games, having been an unused substitute on three occasions.
But he has since started the past four league contests for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side and helped the south coast outfit to a 1-0 victory over Leeds on Saturday.
Asked to describe his season at St Mary’s thus far, the 25-year-old told the Daily Echo: “It’s all right. At the beginning of the season there was a tougher period for me where I wasn’t starting.
“The manager decided to put Jack (Stephens) and Sali (Mohammed Salisu) in but I kept working hard and I fought for my spot.
“It’s also a good boost for me, motivation to not get into a comfort zone and I always try to improve and that’s what I did.
“I think it’s a good season. It’s a moment where I’m improving, a moment where I’m learning and that’s what’s important – to not stay in the comfort zone but always be keen to improve and that’s what I’m doing.”
Victory over Leeds at St Mary’s was Saints first league win of the campaign, taking them to seven points from eight games.
“It was important for us to get the first win, to kind of prove to ourselves that we can be a very strong side,” said Bednarek.
“To get into the things which we are working on in the training ground about keeping a clean sheet and scoring goals up in front.
“That was very important for us, a great boost, a great motivation to work even harder and to get another great result in the next weekend.
“We went through a tough period because we were working really hard and I think we performed well during the previous games, but there was always something missing that we were not able to win.
“This game, I think defensively and offensively we were very good and there was like a sum up for us, for this tough period.
“Hopefully we can win more games. We have a period where we can do it and we will do it, I’m pretty sure.
“We are working hard, doing the things which we know we have to improve and we are performing better and better.”
Saints host Burnley in the top flight on Saturday (3pm).
NFL star Malcolm Jenkins is part of the ALK Capital investment group that took over Burnley last year, the club has revealed.
Jenkins, a two-time Super Bowl winner, visited Turf Moor for the first time over the weekend.
The 33-year-old, who currently plays for the New Orleans Saints, has a minority stake in the club.
“I’m excited to enter this new relationship, as Burnley FC is known for its tenacity, work ethic, good sportsmanship and efficient operational infrastructure.
“It’s a great fit for me personally and my company to invest in the growth of the sport alongside a historic organization that aligns with our company values,” he told the club’s website.
“I think the club’s doing a great job with some of the updates around the stadium and to see the vision of where they want to go in creating a venue that’s not only a great place to come and watch a game is really exciting.”
Jenkins was given a tour of Turf Moor alongside chairman Alan Pace before watching the Clarets’ 2-0 defeat at Manchester City over the weekend.
“It was great to welcome Malcolm and his team to Turf Moor at the weekend and give them their first live taste of Premier League action,” added Pace.
“Malcolm has a wealth of high-level experience, not only as an elite sportsman, but through his successful business and philanthropic enterprises.
“We’re thrilled to have him as part of our investment group and look forward to him helping our efforts to develop the club both on and off the pitch.”
LEADER Nathan Redmond “has the respect from the others” in the dressing room at Saints, explained boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
The 27-year-old has proven to be a divisive figure among the Saints fanbase in recent months, but he shone during Saturday’s victory over Leeds United.
Playing as a striker alongside Armando Broja, Redmond provided the assist for the latter in the 1-0 victory.
Speaking to the Daily Echo after the game, Broja dedicated his goal to Redmond, explaining: “He said to me before the game, ‘just keep working because the goal is going to come today’. He said ‘I’ll make sure the goal comes for you’.
“He was amazing as well and it was a great run from him and a great pass from him.”
In a separate interview, the Albanian frontman added: “He’s obviously been playing in the Premier League for a long time, experienced, he knows everything.
“In the game he’s a great player to be with because he just coaches you through the game. Tells you where you need to be, tells you to cover.
“So I don’t feel like I’m out the game. I know exactly what I’m doing, I know everything. He just helps you. I couldn’t be more happy with Nathan.”
And Broja was not the first young Saints player to praise Redmond in recent weeks, with teenager Tino Livramento also crediting the former Norwich City man with helping him to improve.
Asked how important Redmond’s experience is among the squad, boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “He is definitely a player who has the respect from the others because he has a lot of experience in the Premier League.
“He played a lot of games there. I am not part of the dressing room all the time, so I cannot tell you how much they are speaking to the others.
“I see them sometimes talking. Tino especially is a player who knows very good what he needs to do, but the way he stepped in the team since he was here is a fantastic one and sure all the players are definitely helping the young lads.
“We have a good mixture at the moment between the leaders and the workers.
“I think absolutely everybody has to work, but the balance is good.”
Discussing Redmond’s recent performances, and some of the criticism he has received from supporters, Hasenhuttl added: “I think Reddy had a tough last season, with some injuries and was never really fit.
“Now he is coming back to a higher level. We have to give him the trust.
“Then he has to pay it back. It’s so simple as this in football. He did it, he paid back.
“I’m always very critical with him. I know how good he can be and I’m not really always happy with what I see.
“I always want more from him, because he is good.
“This is pressure on him, yes. But I think he needs this. If he works like he did (on Saturday), automatically his performance is a very good one and then he shows he can help us in the Premier League.
“This is what we need to have, this quality we need to have. The way that he made the assist for the goal was how Reddy can do it.”
STAND-IN skipper Oriol Romeu stressed his desire to have a winning mentality – whether it be on the football pitch or the table tennis table!
The 30-year-old midfielder captained Saints to their first net gain of the season, with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the top flight at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Romeu played 90 minutes of the clash against Marcelo Bielsa’s side, as Armando Broja’s winner earned Saints three match points.
But while delivering points and performances for Saints remains his main focus, the competitive Spaniard has also developed a love for table tennis while coming through the ranks at his different clubs.
Romeu was pictured on social media playing table tennis against boss Ralph Hasenhuttl during pre-season, while also previously locking horns with Juan Mata during the pair’s time at Chelsea.
The Saints star said: “On the table tennis, I’ve got no rival – I am unbeaten so far! All jokes aside, I think I am the best at table tennis.
“I love table tennis and it’s probably one of the things I would do more often if I could. I beat the manager this time. I just beat anyone on the other side of the table!”
Quizzed about playing against World Cup winner Mata, Romeu replied: “Yeah, every time we finished a training session we would go down to the gym.
“We had a table tennis table there and we would play for a good hour or sometimes longer.
“We were running more in table tennis than on the pitch sometimes! We loved it because it was so good to do something else, something different and we enjoyed it.”
He added: “I don’t like losing. I like winning and I like getting better and competing well.
“Although sometimes as I get older, I try to be a little bit more clever – it’s more important what I do on the pitch than playing table tennis and some other sports.
“But I like competing, I like rackets, tennis and paddle – any sports that can help me to think of something else and also get fitter in the meantime. It’s nice to do.”
Romeu is expected to keep his place when Saints host Burnley at St Mary’s on Saturday (3pm).
ADAM Lallana has praised defender Tariq Lamptey after he made his Premier League return on Saturday.
The right-back made his first Premier League outing since last December against Norwich as he entered the field as a second-half substitute for Joel Veltman.
While he is not yet back to his best, it is good to see the promising defender back on the pitch.
Adam Lallana congratulated Tariq Lamptey on making his return on Instagram.
The 33-year-old said: “Buzzing to have Tariq back…one of life’s good guys and some player.
“Far from our best yesterday performance-wise, but will take the point. Some monster games coming up. We’ll be ready.
Lamptey replied to Lallana, he said: “Thank you bro, really appreciate it. Buzzing to be back.”
While Lamptey did not amaze on his return, he put in a very solid performance for the Seagulls. He completed 94.7 per cent of his passes, as well as playing one accurate cross and one accurate long ball.
It was clear to see that the defender lacked some match fitness as he gave away two fouls in his 32-minute cameo.
The 21-year-old will be hoping for more game time in the coming weeks, as Albion take on Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League as well as a League Cup match against Leicester City.
It is Lamptey’s second appearance this season after he got 45 minutes under his belt against Swansea City in the League Cup last month.
Graham Potter will have to manage the defender’s playing time, as to not cause any reoccurrence to the injury that kept him out for ten months.
Pascal Gross says Albion must improve in the final third after their blank at Norwich.
The Seagulls followed their 0-0 draw against Arsenal with the same result at Carrow Road.
They were not content with their attacking work, although they had enough chances to win the game.
Midfielder Gross said: “We could create more chances. The last pass or last shot was missing something.
“If not, we probably win the game. And it wasn’t the case, unfortunately.
“A clean sheet in the Premier League is always good. We are solid defensively.
AUDIO: BRIAN OWEN REVIEWS BRIGHTON’S DRAW AT NORWICH – AND THE RETURN OF A FAVOURITE
“That is something we can build on.
“Better in the last third and you get more points.”
HOW BRIGHTON DREW 0-0 AT NORWICH CITY
Gross was among those who felt Albion should have had a penalty when Tim Krul appeared to clip Neal Maupay.
He said: “He passed the keeper. It’s a tap-in into an empty net so there is no reason for him to go down.”
This is the moment Albion had a major let-off at Carrow Road – and don’t those Norwich fans behind the goal know it?
An under-hit shot by Josh Sargent allowed Shane Duffy to get back and clear.
The America striker was faced with an open goal after Robert Sanchez miskicked.
But his shot lacked conviction and the groans could be heard around most of Carrow Road even before Duffy slid in.
Just look at those expressions in this picture by Richard Parkes.
Albion went on to complete a fourth clean sheet in eight games this term.
Defender Dan Burn said: “They obviously had the best chance with the open goal in the first half which Sargent missed.
PREMIUM: Brian Owen reviews Albion’s 0-0 draw at Norwich
“And they had a couple of chances from our own mistakes really.
“But we are really good defensively.
“The defensive options we have got are very good all over the park so I am happy for the lads to come away with a clean sheet.”
LEEDS United boss Marcelo Bielsa offered no excuses for his side’s 1-0 loss at Saints, admitting: “The defeat was fair.”
Saints produced a dominant display at St Mary’s, with Armando Broja’s goal enough to take all three points.
The win lifts Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men above Leeds in the Premier League table, with both sides having registered just one win from their opening eight matches.
Reflecting on the match, Whites boss Bielsa said: “The defeat was fair. It was justified in the first half, even if they scored in the second.
“We didn’t play well, evidently.
“It was difficult for us to prevent them playing out and being fluid.
“It was difficult for us to recover the ball in the middle of the pitch and we didn’t prevent them from gaining possession to become promising attacks.
“Evidently our game didn’t look like the one which we usually play.
“Perhaps we were not as powerful as the opponent, but I don’t have the impression that we didn’t run to try and convert the difference.
“Especially if you see the second half, it’s not that we played well, but in the first half we were overcome and in the second half we could not overcome them, so it was different from what happened in the first half.
“But the differences in the first half, I thought they were more marked out than in the second.”