Limiting the spread of misinformation

Steve Bruce:

"Considering the problems we’ve had, I was delighted. The one thing you can’t deny about this group of players is their ability to roll their sleeves up and have a go.

"We played two full-backs as centre-backs today (Emil Krafth and Danny Rose), and they were terrific. I was delighted with their attitude.

"Emil’s got a really sore ankle, and did well to carry on, but I think he epitomised the spirit of all them.

"It was important we put a point on the board. It means Brighton can’t be above us, and that’s important to me.

"That's our 10th game in 35 days.

"We have got a lot of tired bodies. We can't rotate like some others can. Andy Carroll is beating himself up in there (the dressing room), he knows he should have scored the winner.

"It's been difficult for everyone concerned with everything that's gone on. We've done OK. I would have taken 44 points. I think we were safe when we beat Southampton in March.

"In every interview for 15 weeks I've been asked the same thing (about the takeover). We need a bit of clarity.

"Until then I'll go to work and see the CEO and plan for the summer. That's all we can do. It's frustrating."

Newcastle halted a run of three successive defeats on Monday evening, keeping their first clean sheet in eight games as it finished up scoreless against the Seagulls for the second time this season.

Having conceded 12 times in his most recent four outings, there was satisfaction for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in achieving a shutout with something of a makeshift defence in front of him.

In truth though a Brighton side in need of a point to mathematically ensure top-flight survival were happy to do just that, rarely looking to win the game.

What proved to be the moment of greatest danger for the visitors was self-inflicted, Matt Ritchie losing possession in his own box to Neal Maupay in the 28th minute and seemingly impeding the Albion player.

Ritchie was penalised in our last away game at Watford for something which was similarly clumsy rather than malicious, but the lack of any appeal from Maupay may have spared the Magpie from punishment. 

Clad in their orange change kit, United had few clear scoring opportunities themselves in what was a typical end-of-season encounter.

Dwight Gayle's header from a Jonjo Shelvey corner near to half time was followed by a Miguel Almiron shot five minutes after the restart that almost crept in before Mathew Ryan blocked it.

Adam Webster's rising effort from outside the box was palmed over by Dubravka on 76 minutes, before Andy Carroll miscued a close range header following Ritchie's corner in the closing stages of the game (and ruined our standby match report headline of "Brighton Crock" in the process).

Running out of bodies at the back, Steve Bruce opted to field Ritchie and Manquillo as wing backs, with Danny Rose, Federico Fernandez and Emil Krafth between them.

While the defence was anything but first-choice though, the front players were there in body but lacking in spirit.

Allan Saint-Maximin was subdued by his own standards, rarely asking questions of an Albion defence who hadn't kept a home clean sheet in 2020.

Quite simply we've become over-reliant on his spark and invention; be it creating chances or drawing fouls for set pieces.

With Dwight Gayle and Miguel Almiron similarly tentative, none of the visiting side seemed happy in possession; only the usual industrious display from Ritchie threatening to interrupt the calm.

The intensive schedule is undoubtedly a factor in teams throughout the league looking jaded as the end of a hectic 40 days comes into view.

But injuries aside, it has also exposed the shortcomings in this squad and the likes of Yoshinori Muto and Christian Atsu being a complete waste of a pair of boots, never mind worth a place in our 25 man squad.   

Newcastle remain thirteenth, unable to go any higher even if they were able to avoid defeat against Liverpool on Sunday.

Depending on what Crystal Palace do in their final game, thirteenth could become fourteenth - but it's hard to find anyone who actually gives a toss at this point.

Feelings of detachment and indifference may have been exacerbated by the necessity of watching games on TV, but this has been the most unsatisfying of seasons - despite the praise showered on Bruce by pundits.

In the manager's own words, the job was done some weeks ago and tonight's game was of little consequence regardless of the outcome. That's something to be relieved about, not take a perverse pride in.

Sadly though that's increasingly become the norm round these parts, where even the opportunity to chuck a new face on was passed up tonight.

To say that there's a lack of appetite to line up again for more of the same within weeks is an understatement, even for diehard lunatics like us. 

The phoney atmosphere of Project Restart games sums us up as a football club well at present: existing in a vacuum, devoid of air, life and hope.

COVID threatens to break the invisible bonds between club and fans that years of underachievement and shattered dreams couldn't.

If this club doesn't get sold, then the job that the current owner and management faces is an unenviable one: attempting to punt a non-existent dream to an increasingly disenchanted fanbase.

Perhaps uniquely, we may not have to worry about social distancing at matches when limited crowds return, because increasing numbers are realising that this lot isn't actually worth watching.