Steve Bruce takes blame for West Brom performances as Hawthorns pressure mounts
West Brom manager Steve Bruce has responded as he comes under “genuine pressure” at The Hawthorns after his side’s dire 3-2 defeat to Birmingham City.
The Athletic’s Elias Burke has suggested (15 September) that his position at The Hawthorns is now under threat after just one win in the Championship so far this season.
Bruce has responded to criticism of his side and his position at the club as the Baggies now find themselves down in 20th in the table.
As quoted by The Express and Star (16 September), Bruce said: “Always. That’s what football is [right man to turn it around].”
“We’ve got another game tomorrow. A big one. For me, anybody who finishes above Norwich will go up.”
“We’ve got a real game on our hands.”
Norwich the final straw
Albion fans knew that this season was going to be a struggle with Bruce in charge after the second half of the 2021/22 season, but one win in nine Championship games which includes six draws is worse than what most expected.
It’s really hard to see how the 61-year-old manages to turn this poor run of form round or actually envisage this team going on a long winning run to pull themselves to a somewhat respectable decision.
Norwich could be the watershed moment for the club and perhaps a trip to a rampant Canaries side could provide the fatal blow to Bruce’s tenure at The Hawthorns.
If he somehow flukes a point at Carrow Road then he may last a little longer but ultimately, he is not the man to lead any sort of charge up the Championship table.
A heavy defeat to Dean Smith’s side may cause short-term damage to West Brom and see them drop into the relegation zone, but if it sees Bruce relieved of his duties, most Baggies fans will see it as a positive going forward.
In other West Brom news, Celtic ace Josip Juranovic likens West Brom signing Tom Rogic to Lionel Messi