Steve Madeley shares ‘significant victory’ Steve Bruce gained in 1st West Brom home game
Steve Bruce managed a major achievement in his first West Brom home game as there were no boos at The Hawthorns, says The Athletic’s Steve Madeley.
The Baggies drew 0-0 with third-placed Blackburn Rovers on Monday night (February 14) and climbed above Sheffield United on goal difference into eighth, albeit having played two games more.
Not a bad result considering the decent opposition, and there are still things to work on for the new manager, but Madeley believes the renewed support from the fans is significant.
Writing in The Athletic he says: “Bruce’s first ‘success’ was, however, an important one if his players are to have a real chance of improving performances and results.
“The Hawthorns has been a toxic place for much of the last five months, ever since the early promise of Valerien Ismael’s gegenpress revolution gave way to a slow, depressing decline into long-ball disjointedness.”
While acknowledging it won’t last long without results he said, for now: “The presence of a different face in the dugout, combined with clear signs of a new approach to playing the game from the men out on the pitch, including an obvious plan to retain possession and pass the ball with intent, made for a more patient environment in which to perform.”
It’s a start
Rarely if ever is it possible for a team to perform to the best of its ability in the face of hostility from its own support.
That is all the more true when the cause of the hostility is the team struggling in the first place.
So it is indeed encouraging for the Baggies faithful to be back onside to the degree that the manager can attempt to get his ideas put into practice.
The new manager bounce has not been obvious yet, with the ex-Newcastle boss’ first game ending in a 2-0 loss at the Blades, but a point against a side so close to the top of the table is not to be sniffed at.
Keeping 20-goal Ben Brereton Diaz off the scoresheet is also a reasonable achievement.
So it is a matter of small victories so far, and while that is a start of sorts, as Madeley says, it will not last long if points do not follow and the team does not manage to at least get back into the playoff places.
In other West Brom news, Simon Jordan has taken aim at the club and a recent signing.