Former Newcastle United & Aston Villa Boss Under Pressure At League One Club

Former Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce insists Blackpool are “close to turning a corner” despite supporters voicing frustration after another defeat at the weekend.

The Seasiders slipped to a 1-0 loss against Northampton Town, with Cameron McGeehan’s late strike extending their difficult start to the League One season.

Manager Sees Positives Despite Poor Run

Blackpool went into the game with a near full-strength squad following the international break, but once again struggled to convert possession into clear chances. A defensive lapse proved decisive, allowing Northampton to secure all three points in front of their home crowd.

Bruce, who has managed multiple clubs including Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic, felt his side showed signs of improvement even if the result did not reflect it.

“I saw a very good team today, apart from the first five minutes, I thought we were excellent,” Bruce told reporters. “I saw the makings of a very good side. We’ve spent the last two weeks on the training ground, and you can see how we worked.

“We were a threat going forward, but gave a bad goal away, and that’s something you can’t coach – it’s a couple of individual errors. We’re really frustrated because we were the better team by far.”

Supporters, however, were less convinced, with many pointing to a lack of cutting edge in attack and familiar defensive errors undermining progress. The result leaves Blackpool with questions over their ability to build momentum after an inconsistent start.

The comments also drew comparisons with Neil Critchley’s words following a loss to Crawley Town at the beginning of last season. Critchley spoke of being “encouraged” despite defeat, but parted ways with the Seasiders shortly afterwards as poor form continued. For Bruce, there is a concern history could repeat itself if performances do not translate into results quickly.

While the manager retains support from sections of the fan base and was heavily backed during the summer transfer window, patience is beginning to wear thin after another disappointing away day. The quality of recruitment, much of it overseen directly by Bruce, is seen as reason enough to expect an immediate upturn.

Site Opinion

Bruce’s positivity was a clear attempt to keep spirits high, but comparisons with Critchley’s ill-fated optimism will concern some Blackpool supporters. The squad is strong on paper, and given the manager’s influence in summer recruitment, pressure is mounting to deliver tangible progress.

Sacking another coach so early in the season may not be logical, but results must improve quickly to justify the faith shown in Bruce. A strong performance and victory could ease the pressure, but anything less risks deepening the sense of unease at Bloomfield Road.