Big Sam (still) said today after the Derby match we are on a run because we are (still) undefeated, in one of the most disgraceful game we ever played this season at home. Without wanting to start the pressure again, I’m feel embarassed by the way we play these days.

Sam also said we were lucky to have several injured defenders returning to the squad, and that will give Newcastle United more defensive options for the busy Christmas and New Year period.

Today we have Claudio Cacapa and David Rozehnal began as United’s central defensive pairing. Unfortunately, we are still suffering an early goals in both first and second half, and today it was Rozehnal who was taken off and replaced by Steven Taylor before the hour mark.

If the last time it’s Cacapa who was being off after just 17 minutes of play in second half because he is having a hamstring injury, this time Allardyce said there’s no injury problem to Roz but he’s bring on Taylor as a tactical change to handle Derby’s aerial ability.

“There’s no injury to David. It was a tactical change. I thought we needed a bit more aerial power to cope with Steven Howard and his threat. It was their first point of attack.” Big Sam added, as quoted from the official site, “The defensive problem has cropped up again - but we’ve got more options available in defence.”

Allardyce also said he was relieved that United finally grabbed another late goal but this time no win but it’s just for an embarassing equaliser.

Newcastle failed to taking the advantage of playing at home against bottom-of-the-table Rams. For them two goals against us added their away goals tally up to three. The first one is when they scores against Manchester United.

“We are very disappointed, “said Big Sam, “but we are on a run because we are undefeated. We should have beaten Derby and it’s our own fault all together that we didn’t.”

“We know we should have won this game but we haven’t lost it and now we have to go forward with our undefeated run.”

Realistic or not, we are still far away from being a good solid team each week. Although we won any, we are still have some problems to deal with. The defence still need more attention and if we are playing like this the other night we take on Arsenal, we are buried deep.

Newcastle United new boys, David Rozehnal is having a new boy this week in Newcastle on Wednesday. The Czech star is targetting his first goal for Newcastle on Sunday and will celebrate it for his son.

“I am very happy and there would be no better way to celebrate than with a win this weekend. If I can score a goal for Luka then that would be great too.” Said Roz, quoted from the official site.

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Although Sam Allardyce has expressed his delight about David Rozehnal during the pre-season games and he appears to have settled into English football, but Big Sam still believes David will be stunned by what he finds at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Rozehnal has shown how quickly and clever he is on Toon centre-back during the pre-season fixtures, but Allardyce knows that he has to get used to and prepared for the physical nature, rapid speed from the Bolton side who is generally regarded as one of the most physical team in the land.

Allardyce later said if David can cope with the way Bolton play and the questions they will ask of him, he will be able to cope with any other team. I hope he does because he’s a good player and he has had a good pre-season.

Rozehnal hasn’t missed any training and he has been a major bonus during our pre-season programme. He will be pairing with Steven Taylor in Toon centre-back, while Geremy or Carr looks set to fill in the right-back. Big question is still there for Sam about who to play in left side. Huntington, Ramage and surprisingly, N’Zogbia will all be the choices there.

Sam has been impressed on how N’Zogbia handled the game when he plays as left-back. The choice is up to Sam whether he wants to make Newcastle play the attacking formation or set the squad on defensive mode. If he choose to play offensive, it looks like N’Zogbia will added to the position, as he can operate as an attacking left-back.