Blues gifted the home side two first half goals and were lucky to go in at the break just two down as their goal was under constant threat from a rampant Newcastle side. "They've got some fabulous players and in the first half they gave us a bit of a lesson but the one thing we're good at is that we're resilient and in the second half we dug in.
However, in true Blues style the side came out and made a fight of it in the second half and Graeme Souness' side were had to work hard for the points after Emile Heskey pulled a goal back midway through the second period.
"We were very poor in the first half. Newcastle got their tails up, played some good stuff and they've played better than anyone has played against us in the first 45 minutes this season," Bruce said after the game.
"We probably shaded the second half and after Emile pulled a goal back maybe, just maybe, we may have nicked something but the best team won on the day."