Bruce's View: Charlton (h)

Last updated : 19 September 2004 By Brian Cartlidge

Just four minutes into the second half and with the game goalless the Northern Ireland international keeper inadvertently failed to cut out a harmless looking cross along the ground by Charlton forward Jonaton Johannson and Addicks full back Luke Young nipped in at the far post to tap the ball home into the empty net.

However, Bruce refused to critisise Taylor after the match, highlighting instead how well the Blues keeper has performed since his transfer from Fulham at the beginning of last season.

"You can count his mistakes on one hand. We all make mistakes but he will get on with it and try and erase it from his memory."

On what was once again a disappointing Blues performance in front of the home fans Bruce insisted that when six new players are brought into a team that it will take time for the side to gel and insisted that results would improve.

"If you try and bring in five or six new faces straight into the team it doesn't quite happen," he said.

"It is going to take a bit of time but we will get better."

One of the new signings, Dwight Yorke, was left on the bench against Charlton but the former Blackburn striker came on to score the all important equaliser.

"Dwight's got terrific ability and I think he will become a big player for us," added Bruce.

"He was unfortunate not to start but I was a bit wary because of having five or six new faces that I was trying to blood them too quickly.

"That's why he didn't start today."