West Brom boss Steve Bruce refuses to answer David Button question after Swansea collapse
Steve Bruce refused to answer a question about the future of West Brom goalkeeper David Button following the 3-2 collapse against Swansea, Elias Burke reports.
The Baggies man was at fault for the opener at the Hawthorns as he got caught under a corner, which he could only flap at to leave Matthew Sirinola an open goal to nod into.
Despite battling back to lead through goals from Jake Livermore and Grady Diangana, Albion somehow managed to throw the game away as Olivier Ntcham and Michael Obafemi scored late, with Button getting nowhere near either, either side of a lame missed penalty from Karlan Grant, and after the match Bruce would not back his 33-year-old stopper to keep his place.
Writing on his personal Twitter account at the final whistle on Saturday (1 October) Burke said: “Boos from much of what still remains of the home crowd after a disastrous collapse.
“”Sacked in the morning” directed towards Bruce and frustrated chants aimed at owner Guochuan Lai.
“Quite unbelievable how Albion lost that game.”
He then added in another post: “FWIW, I asked Steve Bruce if Button is still firmly his No 1 and he replied: “I don’t think that’s a question I should be answering today”.”
Incredible
As with the entire season any good work is categorically wiped out by errors and failings elsewhere, a pattern that was on devastatingly clear display against Russell Martin’s side.
Nice finishes from Livermore and Diangana had done the hard work of rescuing the scoreline after Button had put his side in a hole.
But slack defending threw it away again, before Grant’s cross between a pass and a Panenka from the spot was kept out to pass up a glorious chance to snatch the points.
By that stage fans would have largely have expecting the collapse to be completed with a late winner for the visitors, and it duly arrived.
Button’s role in the team may not be clear after Bruce’s lack of response, although who knows what answer he could really give straight after such a terrible result, but the manager’s entire job is even less secure.
The major frustration comes from the fact that in games such as the creditable draw at high-flying Norwich last time out (17 September), which was unlucky not to be a win, show there is something in this team.
But the table doesn’t lie, and right now it makes terrible reading for Bruce and his side, with Albion 21st and with only one win all season.
Something has to change, but how drastic that change will be remains to be seen.
In other West Brom news, Sean Dyche has made clear that he wants a return to management.