Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has hit out at his critics.

A win against Burnley could lift the Geordies into the top six, with a Carabao Cup quarter final at Brentford ahead in December.

But Bruce is facing a backlash from fans after poor defeats to Brighton and Spurs, with just three shots on target in the league, all leading to goals.

He said: “I can't understand the raging debate.

“Hang on a minute, we've only lost one out of six and we have won four. We are trying to change a little bit. Now I'm lucky, lucky am I? Wow.

“I find it disappointing and deeply frustrating this thing about a lack of direction, this thing about tactics.

“What don't you not understand in what we're trying to do? We haven't played well enough, I'll grant you that. We haven't played with enough intensity, if you like, and we've given the ball away cheaply.

“What do you not understand? We have played one up, with one off the front in six out of the seven games this season. I find this baffling."

Challenged further, Bruce added: “The style is a concern? So all of a sudden we have to think we're Liverpool, do we? We were stylish against Morecambe and West Ham. We had 27 attempts against Newport. It's pretty obvious if you were balanced about it."

Asked if he was a lucky manager the veteran manager added: “So I've been lucky for 20 years, have I? Well, I suppose it's better to be a lucky manager than a good one."