Steve Bruce blathered:

"(It was) Difficult and hugely disappointing - the manner of it. With and without the ball. We certainly didn't do enough and we have to improve.

"I can't question the desire. Nobody was not trying. Maybe we got caught up in Norwich's first home game. We just didn't do enough. It’s quite simple - we didn’t do enough with and without the ball, and then it’s always going to be a difficult afternoon. And it certainly was.

"I’ve got to be ready for the flak which will come my way. And, to be perfectly honest, sometimes you deserve a bit of stick. I’ve got no problem with that because, today, we weren’t good enough.

"The way we started the second half was, arguably, the best we’d been in the game. We conceded twice in a couple of minutes and it knocked the stuffing out of us.

"We had a couple of wonderful chances that might have given us a spark, and we should be taking those chances, the blatant ones. That might have given everyone a lift but, make no mistake, it won’t mask the fact we didn’t do enough, it’s as simple as that.

"It was the basics, we didn’t do enough. That is what has really disappointed me. If I knew the answer (to why), then of course I would have changed something. They’re not bad players, but you have to apply yourself better than what we did.

"At times like this, you need an inquest. I can’t go on to the pitch with them. The one thing in management that I have always tried to instill into my team is that we can make mistakes but I can’t forgive a performance where basically you don’t put your boots on. 

"Unfortunately, it has happened already in the second game in. But I’ll do all I can to make sure that changes.”

On Joelinton: 

"Joelinton got a knock to the hip region. We won’t know until in the week when we look at X-rays and scans but let’s hope he’s going to be OK.

"It always takes time for anybody to come to the Premier League. Of course, with the price tag, you become talked about very quickly.

"With anybody who comes to the Premier League, in my experience, the first thing that hits you is the intensity to it. We’ve got to let them all bed in, find their feet, but obviously you want them to hit the ground running quickly.

“He had a big opportunity. If he’d have taken that opportunity, it might have been a different ball game.”

Daniel Farke said: 

"It was a great performance from Teemu (Pukki).  

"Not only his goals but his work rate and how he is able to link the play. He is so important for the spirit of the whole team. I can remember one scene in the first half when he was willing to run back 80 yards in order to gain possession. 

"(He is) A role model for our spirit. No one is thinking more about themselves. I was never worried if he could step up but he has 36 league games left. He was pretty clinical and you saw with the second strike that is exactly the right finish, to go through the legs of the opponent into the short corner. Then the third goal to have this natural instinct.

"First home game in the Premier League. First at Carrow Road after a terrific last season. To be there with such a great result. Carrow Road was rocking, buzzing - a special afternoon.  

"My feeling is our performance was good. We don't need to speak about Newcastle and if we are top in our topics it is difficult for each and every opponent. The first half we were like a thunderstorm; we created so much lightning.

"It is difficult to ignore the noise. There are so many opinions but we don't care so much about the surroundings or even the results. It is about what we bring on the pitch and where we have to be good to earn points. My lads were brilliant."

Pikku's blinder

Newcastle made it two defeats out of two with a poor showing at Carrow Road on Saturday, as City striker Teemu Pukki helped himself to his first hat-trick for the rampant Canaries.

The Finnish international was last season's top scorer in the Championship and has carried on his form in the top-flight, already netting four times. Not bad for a player signed on a free transfer.

Jonjo Shelvey's late effort at least got United off the mark in the goalscoring stakes, but it was anything but a consolation, as Steve Bruce endured a miserable return to one of his former clubs.

The black and whites looked undercooked and lethargic throughout and barely troubled a makeshift backline containing Magpie discards Tim Krul and Grant Hanley.  

There were two changes to the side beaten at home by Arsenal; Sean Longstaff making way for Ki (who had reportedly moaned about not making the matchday 18 the previous week) and debutant Emil Krafth preferred to Javier Manquillo.

A predictably frantic opening spell saw chances at both ends; Krafth firing over and Martin Dubravka denying Todd Cantwell before Pukki fired one narrowly wide.

Again playing in an advanced role down the right, Issac Hayden sent over an excellent centre in the 26th minute that Joelinton got his head to - only for his effort to miss the target from barely eight yards out. That seemed a costly error and sadly the hosts weren't as profligate just six minutes later, Pukki unleashing a volley that Dubravka reached but couldn't keep out of his net.

Newcastle's best response was a free kick routine that ended in Fabian Schar heading at Krul five minutes before the break. However that was rare moment of positive action for the black and whites, who continually gave away possession and looked vulnerable on either flank.

A brief resurgence after the interval brought one dangerous cross into the box that Krul deflected away, but by the 63rd minute the game was over after Pukki struck for a second time.

United were caught napping again 12 minutes later as Cantwell slipped in Pukki to find a yard of space and fire in from ten yards to complete his treble.

Shelvey got his goal three minutes into added time when he beat Krul from close in but the dispirited away support barely raised a cheer on a day when we lacked both energy and enthusiasm.

There was further concern for Newcastle when news spread that Joelinton had gone off with a hip problem that is set to require an X-ray and scan this week.

United's number 9 endured a frustrating afternoon that included a booking for petulance. Played as a target man, he was routinely crowded out and lacked both service and support. And had he been able to hold up the ball, it's debatable who would benefited: Almiron not on his wavelength as yet.
  
With Allan Saint-Maximin ruled out through injury and both Dwight Gaye and Andy Carroll still unavailable, that's hardly a boost going into what looks like a daunting visit to Spurs on Sunday.

As much as the promoted Canaries were "at it" today and delighted their fans, a sullen Newcastle side were second best across the field and looked there only to make the numbers up.

We have become acknowledged slow starters over recent seasons, but to look so devoid of craft and confidence at this point is deeply concerning. The hosts are strong on their own ground and have lost there just once in 2019, but should have encountered more opposition en route to ending a run of seven Premier League seasons without winning their first home game. 

It's not just the lack of input from supporters that gave the impression that this was a pre-season workout. We simply haven't started yet and that cannot entirely be down to the Head Coach.

Walking back to the station, one away stalwart of our acquaintance claimed that this was the worst performance he'd ever seen. When challenged, he modified it to say that pound for pound, we'd never achieved so little in a game with as many resources. It was difficult to disagree with that.


Biffa