Steve Bruce 'not one to walk away or quit' after Newcastle fans call for him to step down

Fans voice their frustration following 1-1 draw against Leeds United

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Karl Darlow: 7 - Darlow pulled off some crucial saves, none more so than denying what could have been an own goal towards the end which would have looped over him if it wasn’t for a big glove to push it away. Getty Images

Javier Manquillo: 7 - The right-back kept his flank very secure when defending, winning almost all of his duels during the game. AP

Ciaran Clark: 6 - Clark was the quieter of the three centre-backs on the night, having to get involved slightly less but making interceptions when it counted. Getty Images

Jamaal Lascelles: 5 - The Newcastle captain struggled to impose himself on the game from the back, losing some key duels and misplacing some passes when playing out. Getty Images

Isaac Hayden: 6 - Playing a hybrid of centre-back and midfielder, Hayden would often drop into the backline when called upon before venturing slightly further forward. Getty Images

Matt Ritchie: 7 - Ritchie offered a useful outlet from wing-back when going forward and pulling his weight defensively on his flank when required. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin: 8 - The playmaker pulled all the strings for the home side, looking their biggest threat whenever he got on the ball. He scored a great solo goal in the first half from the edge of the box to draw his side level. Getty Images

Sean Longstaff: 4 - The midfielder’s main role was circulating possession but when called to defend, he struggled immensely in the middle of the park. Getty Images

Joe Willock: 6 - Willock had a decent showing, moving the ball well when receiving it and playing well off the ball too. Getty Images

Miguel Almiron: 7 - The 27-year-old created the most chances in the match with four and looked to pull the strings when he got on the ball. Getty Images

Joelinton: 6 - The forward had a busy night up front, getting into good positions but unable to apply a finish to get a goal to his name. Getty Images

SUB: Ryan Fraser (For Almiron 62’): 5 - Fraser entered the game in order to change the dynamic for Newcastle, in search of a winner. He offered little in the time he was on and struggled to have an impact. Getty Images

SUB: Emil Krafth (For Manquillo 81’): N/R - The defender joined to add more energy to the backline and to help see out the game in the last few moments. Reuters

SUB: Jacob Murphy (For Joelinton 90’): N/R - Murphy added some pace with the game stretching late on and had a chance to run with the ball but couldn’t pick out a body in the box in the last moments. Getty Images

LEEDS RATINGS: Illan Meslier: 6 - The Leeds No 1 made some comfortable saves during the night when called upon, but could do little to stop the power of the Saint-Maximin equaliser. Getty Images

Junior Firpo: 6 - Firpo was shaky at points when he had to defend, but overall looked a threat when going forward into dangerous areas. Getty Images

Liam Cooper: 7 - The Leeds captain was a dominating presence at the back for his side when it mattered, making his mark at the back as the only usual centre-back. PA

Luke Ayling: 6 - A make-shift centre-back for the night, Ayling put in a decent performance in an irregular position at the back. He won the majority of his duels before his night was cut short due to injury. Getty Images

Stuart Dallas: 5 - The versatile player struggled as an auxiliary right-back during the match. He had real trouble dealing with Saint-Maximin when he cut in from the wing, making it a tough night. Reuters

Kalvin Phillips: 7 - England’s player of the year had a solid game, playing some great passes to help his side circulate possession. Getty Images

Daniel James: 5 - On his first start for Leeds, James had a quiet showing. He was unable to get on the ball much to be able to impact it for his side. Getty Images

Rodrigo: 6 - The Spanish forward wasn’t able to get an assist to his name, but he assisted heavily in the Leeds goal with a feint that allowed the ball to run past him towards the goal. He looked lively at points but didn’t have the end product to follow. PA

Mateusz Klich: 6 - Klich had a good all-round game, creating a few chances and showing his importance in the build-up play for Leeds when passing out. Getty Images

Raphinha: 7 - The Brazilian scored a fantastic opening goal, even if he meant for it to be a cross to teammate Rodrigo. The ball curled into the far corner and continued to look a threat out wide during the game. Reuters

Patrick Bamford: 5 - The striker had little to feed off of during the game, missing a few of the shots he had a chance to take. Getty Images

SUB: Tyler Roberts (For James 61’): 6 - Roberts’ introduction was in the search of a winner, creating a few chances towards the end of the game but unable to create anything clear cut. Getty Images

SUB: Crysencio Summerville (For Raphinha 68’): 6 - The 19-year-old made his first appearance for Leeds late on, getting a couple of opportunities to drive on the ball but ultimately not impacting the final result. Reuters

SUB: Jamie Shackleton (For Ayling 89’): N/R - Shackleton entered the fray for the injured Ayling to help add another body to the defence in the last few moments. Getty Images

Under-fire Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has vowed to carry on in his job despite fans calling for him to quit following Friday night's 1-1 draw against Leeds United.

Bruce was the target of supporters' ire at St James' Park with a sizeable section of the home support repeatedly chanting for him to step down as Newcastle still search for their first win of the season.

Newcastle are yet to win in six attempts in all competitions so far this season and have only two points in the Premier League as they sit in 18th place.

Bruce said: “I can’t sit here and say it’s not difficult. I understand their frustration, I really, really do. For me, it’s all about the team and the way they were as a crowd towards the team and the atmosphere they generated.

“What can I say about the chants? Look, I’ll say it again: I’m never one to walk away or quit when there’s a fight on our hands.

“I’ll continue to try to do the best I can in this situation and hope I can draw on the experience I’ve had over the last 20-odd years to stand me in good stead and try to keep out the noise.”

A spectacularly open game made for entertaining fare, but left both head coaches tearing out their hair as Rodrigo and Raphinha tormented the home defence and Allan Saint-Maximin was equally destructive at the other end.

Magpies keeper Karl Darlow, making his first appearance since February after a debilitating bout of Covid-19 sidelined him at the start of the campaign, could only look on in horror as Raphinha’s 13th-minute cross sailed into his net as he anticipated a flick from Rodrigo which never came.

Leeds squandered a series of chances to extend their advantage and Saint-Maximin made them pay a minute before the break when he side-stepped his way outside two impending challenges before cutting the ball back across keeper Illan Meslier and into the net.

Patrick Bamford at one end and Saint-Maximin at the other might have won it late on, but both sides ultimately had to make do with a point.

Bruce said: “Yes, you look back on it – we need a win. I’ve said it many times: in the Premier League whether you’re at the top or you’re at the bottom, you’re judged on results and at the end of the day now, we’ve drawn two.

“We need to get a couple of wins if we can.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, however, insisted the visitors should have won on Tyneside, and could easily have been out of sight by half time.

Bielsa, who saw Luke Ayling and Raphinha added to a casualty list along with Jack Harrison, who had tested positive for coronavirus, said: “According to what happened in the game, it’s a game that we should have won.

“It is true that the opponent also had chances, less than us. We dominated the game and they counter-attacked.

“But I insist given the chances we had, we should have won the game.”