Steve Bruce: “It’s been levelled at me that there’s no direction, but I’ve played the same formation in 6 of the last 7 games. We’re trying to change a team that sit deep in a back-five to a forward-thinking back-four with two up. That’s what we’re trying to achieve.”

“Let’s not dissect it the way we are. If someone wants to pull me on it I’ll happily have the conversation, but there has to be balance. It feels like it’s not balanced and it’s not right. It’s quite obvious if you’ve watched us in the last 7 games we’re trying to change.”

“Does it feel like I can’t win? Sometimes. The nature of the job is to get criticised and I accept it. But every manager needs time, even Jurgen Klopp did. It’s still work in progress - I know that sounds easy for me to say but that’s what it is.”