Wear-Tyne tussle is key to success - Waddle

Jan 16 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

THE Wear-Tyne tussle might make or break Alan Pardew’s managerial reign at St James’ Park – and it is scarcely less important to a hurting Steve Bruce.

That is the verdict of former Newcastle and Sunderland winger Chris Waddle, who reckons both bosses have plenty to prove ahead of a “completely unpredictable” derby-day clash.

In the red-and-white corner, Bruce stands accused of failing to turn his young tyros into a team capable of coping with the white-hot atmosphere of Wear-Tyne combat, with the added sting of charges of being a derby bottler.

And over on Tyneside, Newcastle supporters are reserving judgement on Pardew as he continues to try to stamp his authority at St James’ Park.

On that front, Waddle reckons victory in the derby would be enough to banish any worries about his suitability to lead the Toon Army – while unthinkable defeat could hammer a sizeable dent in his credibility at a crucial time for the Toon boss.

“I think it’s got the potential to be a fantastic game. And because of the way they’ve been all season you look at it and you think ‘Anything could happen’,” he told the Sunday Sun.

“I just couldn’t call it because I don’t know which Newcastle or Sunderland is going to turn up for the game. But it is a very important one for both managers you’d have to say.

“It is easily the biggest game for Alan Pardew since he came in. I said at the time that I thought it was a bad decision to get rid of Chris Hughton, but he’s gone about his business quite impressively in the meantime.

“He seems to be honest when he’s asked questions and he’s not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes, but it’s a difficult, difficult job for him and you couldn’t measure how important a win in the derby would be.

“All those doubts, all those little complaints would just disappear. If he was to get that win – whether it is 1-0 or 5-1 – they’d be singing Alan Pardew’s name for years to come.

“It’s a results-based business and you couldn’t get a bigger result than beating your biggest rivals.

“On the other hand, lose this game and all of those complaints that the fans had when Chrissie was sacked will come right back. People will be asking questions about Alan – and he’ll be more than aware of that.”

So what of Bruce, the man who admitted he suffered the worst week of his life following the Halloween hammering at St James’ Park?

“Take that result out and Steve has done a fantastic job this season,” Waddle said.

“Sunderland have been consistent pretty much all year and their home form has been terrific.

“He’s turned a decent side into one that is challenging for Europe and looks like they’ve got a bit about them.

“But there is one thing that is hanging over him and that is that 5-1. He will be desperate to beat the old rivals and he won’t want to go down as someone who gets beaten in the derby twice in one season.

“The first one was a bad day for him. I’m pretty sure he won’t accept that happening again.”