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Alan Shearer praised Newcastle United’s “brilliant result” against West Brom, and credited Steve Bruce’s “positive” substitutions as the moment the game changed.
Newcastle defeated West Brom with another late goal, this time Dwight Gayle rose brilliantly to head a Jacob Murphy cross that passed Sam Johnstone.
But it didn’t look like United could overcome the mediocrity of a disappointing second half until the introduction of Murphy and Gayle.
Shearer felt the context needed to be applied and said Bruce’s changes were key.
“Given the circumstances with COVID, they had to close the training ground for ten days and they only started training again on Wednesday and they had a midfielder playing as a center midfielder, I think it was a brilliant result.
“Steve made some changes in the second half that worked perfectly. Yeah, they got off to a really good start, but then they found themselves in a bit of a rut.
“There were chances to get the ball into the box in the first half and it wasn’t. There weren’t too many decisions that the West Brom backline had to make in that first half.
“But the difference is Lewis comes out and Gayle comes in with Ritchie on the left back. Suddenly, you don’t have to get to the baseline – the first thought is to get the ball into the box.
“Jacob Murphy comes into the right-back position and shoves the ball straight into the box. It was a dream land for a striker and what a ball and what a header it was from Dwight Gayle. That’s what wins the game for Newcastle: positive substitutions , great result and three points “.
Miguel Almirón’s first goal was the second fastest goal of all time at Newcastle, and Shearer was the fastest.
But there was fun in the studio when footage of Shearer’s goal against Manchester City was shown, with a strong touch of handball on strike.
Gary Lineker said the VAR would have ruled it out. “That is definitely the hand of slow work. It will have to be taken from you!” Joked.
Fellow expert Ian Wright also asked to have it retrospectively removed, but Shearer had an answer ready. “You’re still 385 behind me!” joked.
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