Newcastle United are a 'miserable existence' and the 'buck stops with' manager Steve Bruce.
That was the admission of outspoken pundit Chris Sutton over the weekend as he reneged on his previous robust defence of the Magpies boss.
Bruce is coming under increasing pressure as United manager after presiding over a 10-match run without a victory.
Newcastle fans have long expressed their concerns over their side's negative performances under Bruce and the results are now beginning to match performances.
Thankfully, they still hold a seven-point gap between themselves and the bottom three but there is a genuine fear they will be dragged into the relegation battle.
The Newcastle United Supporters' Trust warned the club they were 'sleepwalking towards relegation', while members of supporters' group 'Wor Flags' took to St James' Park on Saturday to unfurl displays encouraging Bruce's departure.
Bruce responded to the displays labelling them disappointing, but Sutton has little sympathy given Newcastle's last two performances in the wake of the United boss' bullish 'gloves are off' comments.
"Newcastle rank 20th in the Premier League for possession, 19th for passes, 19th for shots and 18th for shots on target. What a miserable existence," Sutton wrote in his Mail Online column.
"Supporters of that sleeping giant in the North East deserve so much more than what they’re being served up. Manager Steve Bruce might live to regret those ‘gloves are off’ and ‘we will do it my way’ comments. That won’t help him.
"The buck now stops with him because of what he said, and they were lifeless against Aston Villa on Saturday night. If that’s Bruce’s way, then it won’t win over the fans any time soon.
"The lack of ambition at Newcastle under their owner Mike Ashley is alarming and sad. What have their supporters got to look forward to? Not much, unfortunately."
