Joe Cole mounted a defence of Steve Bruce after Newcastle dropped more points at home to Aston Villa on Friday night.
Jamaal Lascelles had to rescue a point for the relegation-threatened Magpies deep into stoppage time after Ollie Watkins had given Villa, who were without their talisman Jack Grealish, the lead.
The result leaves them just two points above the bottom three, and they could end the weekend in the relegation zone if Brighton and Fulham win.
Even in the face of this grim situation, Cole was adamant that Newcastle ‘have the right man’ to lead them out of the mire in Bruce.
“If Newcastle were in this position and didn’t have a manager, Steve Bruce would be at the top of the list to get them out of this mess,” Cole said on BT Sport (via Geordie Boot Boys).
In truth, the club may have left it too late for any managerial change to have an impact.
Rafael Benitez and Alan Shearer couldn’t pull off great escapes in this kind of timeframe.
Supporters simply have to hope upcoming returnees Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron and, most crucially of all, Callum Wilson, can rescue them.
Newcastle fans blast Cole after Bruce backing
“Steve Bruce was 11th choice when Mike Ashley hired him. No Joe Cole, Bruce didn’t even make the top ten. Clueless pundit”
“Newcastle United shouldn’t be in this position and they shouldn’t have this manager. Steve Bruce should be absolutely nowhere near our club.”
“We’re in this position because of Steve Bruce”
“He’d be top of the list – that is the list of who not to appoint.”
“Unbelievable when I heard that”
“Love to see the rest of the list he has in mind”