Steve Bruce has revealed Newcastle United “lost control” of their FA Cup tie after Yoshinori Muto went off injured.
Bruce felt Muto’s hold-up play and Miguel Almiron’s work-rate cost them dear at Spotland.
Bruce faced the Press after the game and said: “We created chance after chance (in the 1st half). I can’t remember them having a kick.
“Then, of course, we lost another couple (to injury).
“We lost that control we had with Muto. We had to bring in Matt Ritchie for the last 25 minutes. Let’s hope we get a few back.
“It’s been a horrible time in terms of that. The loss of Almiron and Muto in particular. We lost that balance we had, and we stopped causing them problems.
“Their movement caused them problems in the first half. The frailties are there.
“You can’t dominate a game like that and miss the chance we did.”
