The Blues record signing capped a good all round performance by scoring his second goal of the campaign in the 2-1 defeat against Steve McLaren's side but the Blues boss wasn't happy with the overrall display of the side at The Riverside.
Bruce's View: Middlesbrough (a)
"I think we all know that that performance just isn't good enough and so a few words have been said in the dressing room afterwards," the Blues boss said after the game.
"However I'm sure that when the season gets going a bit and players start to gel we'll get better.
"I thought Emile was our best player again. He scored a great goal to get us back in the game just at the right time.
"He's proving what a really, really good buy he was and if we keep giving him the service we'll be ok."
"He's proving what a really, really good buy he was and if we keep giving him the service we'll be ok."
Julian Gray had a great chance to give Blues a share of the spoils but once again he wasted a good goalscoring opportunity as he has done in games prior to the Boro game.
"Unfortunately for Julian he's had four or five opportunities over the five games and at this level its those sort of chances you have to take especially away from home. Unfortunately he's just over-run it, his control all day was immaculate, buts its just bounced away from him," said Bruce.
Blues also had what looked to be a good penalty appeal turned down by referee Graham Poll in the second half when Mario Melchiot's goalbound effort seemed to be cleared off the line with his hand by Gareth Southgate.
Blues also had what looked to be a good penalty appeal turned down by referee Graham Poll in the second half when Mario Melchiot's goalbound effort seemed to be cleared off the line with his hand by Gareth Southgate.
"For me the ball has hit Southgate on the arm and thats stopped it going in the net, is that not a penalty?" Bruce added.