Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has launched a stern defence of Steve Bruce and insists the Newcastle United boss is "doing better than all right."
The Magpies chief endured a tough start to life in the North East after facing six of the 'big seven' in his opening nine Premier League games in charge.
However, a run of one defeat in five matches, including back-to-back wins over West Ham and Bournemouth, has seen them climb up the table to 13th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Given the reaction to Bruce's appointment from many on Tyneside, and having lost Rafa Benitez, many predicted the Magpies to struggle this season.
However, despite losing key players and fighting fan unrest, Bruce has led Newcastle up the table and has been heavily praised by former Liverpool and Tottenham man Murphy for doing so.
"He's doing better than all right," the BBC pundit told talkSPORT.
"He went into a situation where many wouldn't. He knew a lot of them wouldn't want him but he loves the club, he knows what it's about, he knows what the Premier League is about, he has been around for a long time which goes a long way in football management.
"When you've got that type of intensity which you always have at St James' Park, I think when he lost Perez and Rondon there were a lot of people who thought, 'he's got no chance'.
"What he has done is with the players he has got, he's found a way of winning games. He's worked damn hard at set-plays, you can see that. He's made some very, very cute tactical changes in various game which I've seen.
"One of the other factors which I think some people won't agree, Jonjo Shelvey is hugely important to that team. Although he's not the most athletic in the world and ill-discipline, which we've seen, he's a wonderful footballer and he gives them so much creativity. He's been great in the last couple of games."
