But one thing that’s for sure is we are too often to dropped points after doing good. This is some kind of a curse that I don’t really understand until now. We are too easily given out space for the opponents to come to our side and pushing another late equaliser drama at St. James Park.

After the last United’s home game against Wigan, where ex-Toon lad Titus Bramble grab an injury-time equaliser for the Latics, today it was Abdoulaye Faye who gives us a heartbreak moment when he blast home in the 92nd minute.

After Michael Owen two goals within the 24 minutes of first half, we are looking poor in the second period.

Owen’s first chance today came in 7th minutes when Jonas Gutierrez slips the ball into his path. With his back on goal inside the area, United’s skipper works room for a shot but it’s on his weaker foot and Potters goalkeeper Sorensen saves it.

But two minutes later, Owen makes no mistake. Again from an outstanding works by Jonas who darts infield and slots the ball to his captain poking past Sorensen and shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Oba Martins delivers creating the chances for Owen to mark his second of the game in 24 minutes. Oba’s perfect left-wing cross for Owen to slide it home for goal inside the six-yard area.

But the game changed after the break. With Martins missed a close-range header in 60 minutes, the visitors broke out and halved the deficit through Mamady Sidibe.

And the decision to bring Claudio Cacapa in for Geremi makes it even worst for Toon side. Our midfield today really looking really soft without the presence of Nicky Butt and Joey Barton, and to include the loss of Danny Guthrie at half-time.

Five minutes from the end of normal time, the nervous Toon side have to deal with Stoke’s high free-kick. Beye heads it away but only half cleared and Danny Pugh gives a serious heartbeat test when he blast the ball from 20 yards.

And the heartbreak moment finally came in the injury time after United’s players failed to clear Glenn Whealen’s right-wing free-kick.

TEAMS
Newcastle United FC
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong, Geremi, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Charles N’Zogbia, Michael Owen (c), Oba Martins
Subs: Steve Harper, Claudio Cacapa, Xisco, David Edgar, Mark Viduka, Andy Carroll, Steven Taylor

Stoke City FC
Thomas Sorensen, Andy Griffin, Danny Higginbotham, Richard Creswell, Mamady Sidibe, Danny Pugh, Salif Diao, Amdy Faye, Rory Delap, Abdoulaye Faye, Ibrahima Sonko
Subs: Steve Simonsen, Seyi Olofinjana, Leon Cort, Glenn Whealen, Ricardo Fuller, Andrew Davies, Michael Tongue

Referee: Mike Riley

The reason for the improvement wasn’t entirely obvious – at least to Screach & me in the pub. We certainly defended better in the 2nd half – but that wasn’t too difficult, given how dreadful we had been in the 1st. We also created a lot more going forward, and but for a good reaction save by Taylor to deny Owen – who perhaps should have scored – we could have taken all three points.

The only things we noticed different in the 2nd half were that Geremi stayed on the right more, and Butt restricted his forward runs to finally gave the back four a little more protection. There is also the possibility that there may have been a conscious switch to 4-3-3 at half time, with Martins playing closer to Viduka and Owen, with a midfield of Geremi – Butt – Barton.

Whatever subtle changes were made they worked, although there was also a noticeable increase in the physical effort in the 2nd half.

Many of our 1st half problems stemmed from Faye being beaten time and again by McFadden, ultimately culminating in an embarrassing goal when the wee Scot far too easily turned his physically-superior marker in the penalty area, and slotted the ball past Harper.

With Steven Taylor looking a nervous wreck, Barton giving the ball away in midfield with gay abandon, and Faye having a torrid time with McFadden, our defensive work was shocking in the 1st half; much, much better in the 2nd.

Not the ideal result, but a better point for us than Brum in my opinion. It breaks a really bad run, and gives us some genuine positives to take into the weekend, where another 3 points would make a massive difference to our overall position.

Newcastle’s Abdoulaye Diagne Faye scores for Senegal to gave his team the first half lead but can’t help his team to secure it in the second half. Now they have to face the same destiny as the Nigerian team.

Both country only got 1 point out of the possible six. Nigeria has lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast and draw against Mali.

Senegal will face South Africa on their last game in Group D and need a win to take them to the the quarter finals and hoping Tunisia can tame Angola.

Nigeria will need more than just a win to get through from Group B against Benin, they also hope the Ivory Coast team who only need a draw, will still play for the maximum points against Mali.

SAM Allardyce has hailed the “crucial” deadline day signings of Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye and says that both players have a chance of making their Newcastle United debut at Pride Park on Monday.

Faye and Beye both has signed the contract last minutes before the end of Summer window transfer on August 31. Both players are being tracked by Allardyce for some time, but the deadline is just the right time for them to finally get the chance in three-years deal at Fortress St. James’ Park.

To have both Sengalese International players was a bonus for Newcastle United, as they are will often played together and they know each other well from their International experience. This year we are succeeded in developing the Great Newcastle Wall, as we have towering players to guard the defence.

Sam Allardyce is also very happy with his signings. “Abdoulaye Faye was training on his own at Bolton while the transfer dragged on, but he has huge experience in the Premier League,” said the 52-year-old gaffer.

“They will both be in the squad and have a chance of being involved because we still have long-term injuries which is testing the squad to the full.” Sam added more, “That’s why it was crucial to add Habib and Abdoulaye when we did.”

Other players that have a slight problems for the upcoming Premiership match are Jose Enrique and Mark Viduka. Both have their respective hamstring injuries.

Jose has a slight hamstring problem while Mark Viduka is still a little way off because he hasn”t trained with the rest of the lads yet. Sam will have to wait until Monday morning before deciding if he will play them both.