Arsenal - Arctic Monkeys
Just old enough to go to the shops on their own. Prizewinners.

Aston Villa - Maroon 5
Inoffensive nobodies.

Birmingham - Slade
Wrong, just wrong.

Blackburn Rovers - Judas Priest
Still around and upsetting people.

Bolton Wanderers - Black Lace
Not a shred of class.

Chelsea - Westlife
Backed by millions, very successful because of it, but impossible to love.

Derby County - Wet, Wet, Wet
Try as hard as they might - it’s just not going to happen - give up…

Everton - Take That
They refuse to go away.

Liverpool - The Rolling Stones
The establishment living off past glories.

Fulham - Il Divo
Strangely out of place, unless you drive a 4×4 and casually wear your jumper thrown over your shoulders with the sleeves tied in a knot at the front.

Manchester City - Oasis
Also still living off past glories but sporting a massive chip on both shoulders.

Manchester United - U2
Still outdoing their rivals in ticket and album sales in spite of an annoying leader.

Middlesbrough - System of a Down
Summed up perfectly with the album Toxicity…

Newcastle United - The Spice Girls
Attempting to recapture past glories with lots of money and little talent.

Portsmouth - The Wurzels
Unfathomable.

Reading - Mike and the Mechanics
Bland, dull and unlikely to sell out a stadium.

Tottenham - Chas ‘n’ Dave
Nauseating cockney’s.

Sunderland - Cradle of Filth
Unseemly.

West Ham Utd. - Cockney Rejects
The name says it all…

Wigan Athletic - Hanson
Shone for about 10 minutes yet you knew exactly what was going to happen.

Well, another two points down the toilet as things become ever more worrying. On the overall balance of play a draw was probably a fair result.

There were some signs of general improvement, particularly in the second half, but for me we still have problems in midfield where we were never really able to establish any degree of control, apart from a spell in the 2nd half during which we scored.

Once again, we failed to create many clearcut chances, were frequently weak in the tackle, and were guilty of giving the ball away far too often.

I’m afraid Nicky Butt was once again the most guilty in this regard, and it was this propensity to give the ball away that invited the late pressure from Boro that lead to their equaliser.

There were a few decent performances. Individually the defenders did ok, and Taylor and Cacapa made some excellent last ditch tackles and blocks, but as a unit they are still unconvincing.

Sad again, but I have to say that the keeper just doesn’t help them with his dithering. N’Zogbia was caught out of position too often for my comfort, but he did some good things going forward.

Duff had a decent performance, and Barton improved markedly in the second half, especially when he moved into the middle when Emre was subbed. For me, Emre once again largely flattered to deceive - however, his free kick for Owen’s near post headed goal was absolutely sublime.

Owen had an early goal very harshly chalked off for a non-existent foul on Schwarzer, who appeared to simply drop the ball, and also put a far post header in the net only to have that one ruled out because Zog’s cross had curled just out if play and back in.

Owen looked more lively than of late, and I thought he looked a little sharper and pacier. Alan Smith was kicked from pillar to post by the big brute, Wheater who was extremely fortunate not be sent off for his second crude first half foul on Smith.

As ever, Smudger stuck to it, and won a few flick-ons, but his overall contribution was disappointing. He was subbed in the second half, after a cheap yellow looked to have wound him up.

Not a convincing performance, but a point gained I suppose. Beye and Faye may improve us defensively, and hopefully Owen will continue to get sharper with games under his belt.

However, I just can’t see what KK can do with this midfield with the personnel at his disposal. Unless or until we can start to dominate in midfield against even the weaker Premier League teams, especially at home, I’m afraid we will continue to struggle.

Second half started with the visitor attacking. Aliadiere gets away down United left side and pass the ball back from the by-line for O’Neill to shoot, Taylor blocked the midfielder’s low effort and deflects the ball behind for a corner.

Newcastle responded well with Emre makes a run forward and skips three Boro challenges before slipping the ball wide to Duff, the Irish winger twists and turns before tries to cross the ball but deflected behind by Young. Emre’s high corner is met by Taylor who is trying hard at the near post.

Taylor unable to directed the header to the goal and the ball runs away to the right where Barton retrieves. He hooks a high ball to the far post again where Taylor wins it but his effort was be able to clears by the Boro defenders.

A couple efforts from Downing who cuts inside from the left and takes aim for Given’s far corner, but Given scramble it and palm it wide. But the ball stays in play, O’Neill tries to beat Given again at his near post but the angle is tight and Given easily saves.

Newcastle finally breaks the deadlock in 59 minutes. N’Zogbia who tries to cut into Boro’s territory was being tripped down by Young on the left flank. Free-kick in a promising position and Emre once again take the dead ball situation and whips it over to the near post.

Michael Owen ghosted in and glance beyond Mark Schwarzer to score his fifth of the season, St. James’ Park errupted. United take control and in 65 minutes it was Barton who had the chance to double United lead. Owen is crowded out on the edge of the area when he tries to skip around two Boro challenges.

The ball runs free for Barton 20 yards out. He guide it past Schwarzer with a perfect low left-footed strike, but the Aussie stopper is equal to it and saves low to his right.

Soon after the goal Kevin Keegan make couple of changes with Emre makes way for James Milner and Mark Viduka replaces Alan Smith in 67minutes.

And then there’s another great chance for Newcastle to kill the game. N’Zogbia and Duff combine brilliantly down the left and N’Zogbia whips a perfect cross in with Milner pokes the ball but unfortunately the ball was directly into Schwarzer’s arms from about one yard.

The visitor is also have one decent chance on goal, but we have Cacapa! Starts from Downing takes a hit towards goal, but hits Wheater, Given fumbles and, just as it looks like Aliadiere is about to pounce from six yards. Given is totally stranded, but Cacapa slides in from nowhere to clear the ball away.

Boro makes changes, Adam Johnson replaces Fabio Rochemback.

Then, with three minutes left the disaster came. It was the ex-macKem’s Julio Arca who clips a cross over and the gigantic German defender Robert Huth climbs above Stephen Carr to snatch a late leveller for the Teessiders.

I pray to God that we will not another hummiliation as the visitor forcing to get the winner against us. They almost got it twice when O’Neil cross ball bounces around inside the penalty area and it was Huth again to hooks goalwards. It looks destined for the top corner but Given is in well positioned to keep us save.

In the injury time, I have to thank the linesman this time for his flag after Lee had turned the ball into the United goal from Downing’s free-kick. The replays show it was the right decision with the striker a yard offside and Boro are denied the late winner.

What a game, I have to admit that we’re really missing both Beye and Faye. Stephen Carr is not bad today but he was too short to deal with couple of Boro’s crosses, and it was Huth that beat him in couple occasions.

Keegan will have to work even harder, and with away match at Villa next week, I only hope that the Lads will keep improving and can get something out from the Villa Park. Keep the faith! We will be there!

TEAMS LINE UP:

NEWCASTLE UNITED FC:
Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, Damien Duff, Nicky Butt, Emre (James Milner, 66), Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith (Mark Viduka, 67)
Subs: Shola Ameobi, David Edgar, Fraser Forster

MIDDLESBROUGH FC:
Mark Schwarzer, Luke Young, Julio Arca (c), Gary O’Neil, Robert Huth, Stewart Downing, Lee Catermole (Dong-Gook Lee, 71), David Wheater, Emanuel Pogatetz, Fabio Rochemback (Adam Johnson, 80), Jeremie Aliadiere
Subs: Ross Turnbull, George Boateng, Jonathan Grounds

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: tbc

Joey Barton and Emre have been recalled by King Kev for today’s North East derby match. Today’s match is also Barton’s second game since before Christmas as a starter.

Emre, missed the last three matches following the red card against Stoke. This is his first Newcastle game under Kevin Keegan and he is determined to repay the glowing praise from Keegan yesterday. While James Milner and Mark Viduka were dropped to the bench.

Newcastle in search for the first goal for King Kev immediately attacking the visitor and in just three minutes we should have been lead by one goal.

First Barton got the chance to open the scoreline, he gets the ball to feet inside the six yards but his shot is deflected away for a corner. And here comes the controversy when Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer claim the ball from Emre’s corner and fumbles it.

Then he falls into Owen, who is toe-poking the loose ball into the net. It should be a goal but the referee Mike Dean inexplicably blows for a foul.

And for the visitor side, they have David Wheater booked for a terrible sliding tackle from behind on Smith. Emre who took it, blasts the ball and have deflected by Pogatetz for a corner. This time, the delivery wasn’t good as the previous one and bounces out for a goal kick.

Newcastle have another goal been disallowed inside the 20 minutes, but this time I think it was the right decision as the ball is unfortunately drifted out of play from Emre’s corner, poor Owen who is heading the ball home at the far post.

After that terrible corner, Newcastle are beginning to pile on the pressure and The Magpies have two corners in quick succession. One of them worked short to N’Zogbia and darts into the box past Young but cannot past the challenge from Downing who gives the visitors a chance to breath.

And again inside the half hour mark, we have a penalty claim being turn down by the almighty referee Mike Dean. The ball strikes Pogatetz’s arm in the Boro box. Boro who is escape once again, suddenly getting the chance to counter attacking United side with Aliadiere, Young and Rochemback. Thanks to Steven Taylor who is blocked a shot from Rochemback.

Then it was rather bit dissapointing minutes as the visitors have couple of good chances to attack our side and the clearance was little awfull and nearly cost us bad. Taylor almost turns the ball into his own net after slicing Pogatetz’s low, near post cross, luckily we have Shay Given in the right place to save.

The Magpies have couple chances near the end of the first half with Damien Duff running down the left before sending a high far post cross for Stephen Carr, but Pogatetz challenged the ball and get it first before Carr to flick it clear.

Goalles half-time at St. James’ Park.

TEAMS LINE UP:

NEWCASTLE UNITED FC:
Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, Damien Duff, Nicky Butt, Emre, Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith
Subs: James Milner, Shola Ameobi, David Edgar, Fraser Forster, Mark Viduka

MIDDLESBROUGH FC:
Mark Schwarzer, Luke Young, Julio Arca (c), Gary O’Neil, Robert Huth, Stewart Downing, Lee Catermole, David Wheater, Emanuel Pogatetz, Fabio Rochemback, Jeremie Aliadiere
Subs: Ross Turnbull, Dong-Gook Lee, George Boateng, Adam Johnson, Jonathan Grounds

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: tbc

I thought we were ok, not brilliant but ok. Actually, I thought we were infinitely better than in most of the games I’ve seen this season - at least we gave it a real good go, and tried to play football against the arch-spoilers, who to be fair were very well organised and defended superbly.

When we did get a sniff of chance we were flattened. Pity the Ref didn’t have his spectacles on. I’ve actually always considered Alan Wiley a decent Ref, but he had an absolute mare today. Never in control of the game, he missed a cart load of fouls against Toon players, and allowed Notlob to get away with bliddy murder. Shocking performance.

I left on 90 mins today, and am lead to believe Given made a good save in extra time to save a point. Up to the point I left he hadn’t had a save of any consequence to make. Given the quality of our defending this season, the clean sheet shouldn’t be sniffed at.

In contrast to some other observers, I thought Shola did quite well. His control and passing were a lot better than we have seen from him in the past, and he was clearly hauled down in the PA on at least two occasions. I actually felt his contribution to the team was a big improvement in what we have been getting from Viduka.

For me, Michael Owen had a disappointing game - he just wasn’t able to get into things, and was too easily out-muscled when he did.

I thought Zog and Milner did pretty well, but Duff looked rather weary from Wednesday’s exertions, and just wouldn’t take on his man.

Playing Rozenahl in midfield wasn’t a huge success, but it certainly wasn’t a total failure either. He struggled with the role positionally, but did a lot of good defensive covering. His distribution going forward wasn’t great, but hey, he did his best in non-ideal circumstances.

Not a great performance, but for me an improvement on the recent past - at least we went out with attacking intent, pushed the full backs forward, and perhaps just about deserved the three points.

The four untried kids on the bench showed the extent of the Manager’s problems in selecting a team today, and in the circumstances I couldn’t complain at the performance even if the result was disappointing.

Remember, we are reasonable, patient people, and Rome wasn’t built in a day!