This article is part of Football FanCast's Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC's microscope.

Newcastle recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season with victory over Bournemouth, but it could have taken a much different course when Jamaal Lascelles was substituted inside the opening 20 minutes.

Off the bench

With the Magpies 1-0 down after conceding from a set-piece, an injury to their skipper was the last thing they needed, and Steve Bruce could have been forgiven if he was feeling slightly worried about his team's chances.

Other than last week's win over West Ham they hadn't scored more than once in a match, and had only one win at home all season - with disappointing draws to Brighton and Watford.

Despite that, Paul Dummett did an excellent job when called upon, and proved to his manager that there are an array of centre-back options in his squad now, with Ciaran Clark also scoring twice since coming into the side.

Dummett showed his effectiveness a couple of months ago in the 1-0 win over Tottenham, and he slotted into the back five with ease against the Cherries, keeping their usually dynamic trio up-front quiet.

Credit to Bruce

The form of Newcastle's defenders currently is no coincidence, and is instead a sign of the good work Bruce has conducted since arriving at the club.

He has organised the back five superbly and stuck by that selection choice despite coming under fire at a few points during the campaign.

With Lascelles being forced off and Fabian Schar also sidelined, it was very much a makeshift centre-back trio in Dummett, Clark and Federico Fernandez, but they barely put a foot wrong and the Magpies looked comfortable after a slow start.

Bruce has got the mentality right, too, and has his players working hard, as evidenced by the number of points they have won despite averaging 38% possession in the league. That should provide competition for places, and allow the Magpies to win games even with key players missing.

Newcastle's captain will undergo a scan to determine the issue with his knee, but in the meantime Bruce may not be too concerned by his absence, as Dummett stepped up to the plate.