Steve Bruce addresses boos from returning Newcastle United fans

Bruce’s side beat Sheffield United 1-0 tonight in front of a 10,000 crowd thanks to a goal from Joe Willock The result moved the club up to 15th place in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s final game of the season against Fulham.

The players, Bruce and his coaching staff lapped the pitch to applaud the fans inside St James’s Park after the game, but the lap was punctuated by boos aimed at United’s head coach. There was also a chant which referenced his time as Sunderland manager.

“It was great to see fans back in,” said Bruce, who has spoken about his determination to see out the final year of his contract.

“It’s a different spectacle. As I’ve said from day one, I won’t be everyone's cup of tea, unfortunately, but that’s the way it is.

"Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. That’s the way it is, unfortunately.”

Reflecting on the game, Bruce said: “We had some really good opportunities, and didn’t take them, but the goal itself was the real bit of quality in the game.

“It was a great pass from Allan Saint-Maximin, and it’s a great cross from Jacob Murphy, and, of course, it would have to be Joe Willock again, wouldn’t it? Six (goals) in six is a quite remarkable achievement.”

Visiting manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “We started really, really well, stopped Newcastle playing forwards, won the ball back in good areas, and then broke from those areas and created chances, which we didn’t take.”