Many people assumed that West Bromwich Albion had made a canny decision when they unveiled Steve Bruce as boss back in February.
The Baggies were in the Championship play-off places when they decided to roll the dice and replace Valerien Ismael with four-times promotion winner Bruce. The aim was to push on and go after an automatic promotion spot. But it has proved to be anything but a masterstroke. The 61-year-old, who was a shock appointment just months after his high-profile Newcastle exit, has won just two of his 10 games at the helm and suddenly Albion look destined to miss out on the top six altogether.
Sunday saw Bruce's men beaten 1-0 away at Midlands rivals and his old employers Birmingham City. The result leaves West Brom down in 12th place and eight points adrift of the play-offs.
The game at St Andrew's was a disappointingly dull affair that Lyle Taylor's second half penalty - awarded after Conor Townsend's inexplicable handball - ultimately decided. Bruce said afterwards the game was the worst he had ever seen but that will do little to appease Baggies' fans, who didn't see their side register a single effort on target.
"That's got to be the worst game of football I've ever seen. It was lacking in quality on both sides," Bruce admitted afterwards. "We had a stone-wall penalty shout in the fourth minute which the referee missed. He seemed to blow the whistle then think 'what have I done?' and invented a free-kick for them instead.
Was it the right decision for Bruce to join West Brom? Let us know in the comments
"It's a derby game and you expect it to be a bit frantic. But we didn't possess any real quality in the top end of the pitch. The results on Saturday gave us a wonderful opportunity and we haven't taken it. That's the frustration and why we are where we are in mid-table, when we're a team who are supposed to be at the top end. I think we’re all disappointed with the performance. The game was difficult and there was nothing in it really.
"It lacked quality from both teams if I’m being honest. That’s the biggest frustration for me. The fact that in the time I’ve been here we’re so inconsistent and we go up and down. It was an awful game of football with no quality on show at all. I don’t think either of the goalkeepers has had to make a save, and that sums it up. The ball was out of play, there were lots of throws and set-pieces. It was in the air. Let’s be brutally honest, it was a dreadful game of football.”
Bruce was also quizzed post-match on whether he still had the appetite for the job next season, which looks extremely likely to consist of another campaign in the second tier. Bruce, appointed on an 18-month contract, responded: "I’ve really, really enjoyed it. There is a bit of work to be done, but I’ve really enjoyed the seven or eight weeks. As far as I’m concerned. I’d love to stay.”
