Matt Ritchie hits back at disrespectful treatment of Steve Bruce | OneFootball

The welcome Steve Bruce received at Newcastle has been branded as disrespectful by winger Matt Ritchie.

The Scotland international reflected on the rocky beginning for the manager after he replaced Rafael Benítez last summer.

But things are finally looking up for Bruce after fans in the Gallowgate End chanted his name during the FA Cup win over Rochdale, much to Ritchie’s delight.

“I wasn’t aware at the time that it had happened but that’s genuinely fantastic,” he told the Chronicle.

“The gaffer came in and everybody knows he probably wasn’t received with the respect that he deserves.

“He has been in the game a long time and played at the top level with Manchester United in Europe.

“He has won things at the top level and is a really good man with the club’s best interests at heart.

“The man-management he has is fantastic. Newcastle is a very happy camp this season.

“We haven’t achieved anything yet but we’re on our way if we keep our foot on the gas and the manager deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Ritchie made his comeback from injury after a five-month lay-off in midweek and popped up with two assists to send the Magpies into the next round.