They can claim as having the “more settled” team for the last two years with their recent multi-millions signings. But, two defeats and a draw in 12 months is the reality have to be seen from Steve Bruce derby record.

Both team starting the game with a draw against two harder opponents in the first campaign last week matchday. Newcastle set a goalles draw against Arsenal, where mackem’s only can save the bell while travelling to Anfield.

Newcastle may hardly threatened the mackem in an open play but, we are still creating danger from set-pieces and it was Ryan Taylor’s trademark free-kick that killed the stubborn Sunderland team.

And, after fallen behind, they they appeared to run out of ideas. The introduction of midfielder Craig Gardner, and South Korean striker Ji Dong-Won along with overrated £8m teenager Connor Wickham has nothing important to give for them.

We have another outstanding appearance from our skipper Fabricio Coloccini who dealt with everything the Black Cats threw in his commanding area. While Tim Krull was equal as calm as his senior infront of Toon’s goal.

To added a bonus from our last night brilliant result, we have another good sign of the prospect to land our last targets this summer.

As I said earlier on my previous post, we can land at least one of the possible two new signings this week. It was being reported from the inside source, Cissokho’s English-based representatives have met with Derek Llambias to discuss the deal for the Lyon left-back transfer.

Four points dropped to extra time equalisers this week is, of course, immensely disappointing, but I couldn’t criticise the performance today – and while we might have just about edged it, Spurs are a good team these days and a draw was possibly the correct result.

We worked our socks off seeking to contain Spurs passing game, and to a large degree we succeeded. My concern was always that we might not last the full 90mins – and I think this is perhaps what killed us at the finish. Our midfield was treading water during the last 10 mins, and to Spurs credit they kept going to the end.

Despite the incredible work rate, we still have a tendency to give the ball away cheaply too often, and against a team like Spurs you expend buckets of energy getting it back. 2nd goal would have killed the game, but we perhaps went rather too gung-ho for it, and paid the penalty. Having said that we had 2 or 3 terrific chances to seal the win, with Lovenkrands and Ranger missing good opportunities late on.

We defended pretty well with Williamson, Colo and Enrique having terrific games. Colo’s goal resulted from a brilliant crossfield pass from Guthrie that he controlled on his chest, brought it inside his marker and planted it in at the far post. Shearer himself would have been proud of that one.

Simpson did ok, but he still gives his winger a few yards too much space in which to run at him. He could learn a lot in this regard from Jose, who gets tight to his man, and quickly, and rarely gives him a chance to run at him.

When going forward Simpson infuriatingly brings the ball back onto his weaker left foot to cross. I think this is a lack of self-confidence in his ability to go outside the full back. Harper made 2 or 3 excellent saves at critical times.

Best & Shola both worked hard, and supported the midfield as necessary. They both had a couple of half chances but didn’t quite have the quality to put them away. Best did really well to stretch to reach one terrific cross from Jonas, but his cross shot hit the bar.

After a fairly even 1st half, we got on top in the 2nd. After scoring we kept going forward for the 2nd goal, but as we visibly tired Spurs came into the game more and more.

It became a bit of a seige during the final 10 mins or so, and unfortunately the equaliser came when Simpson allowed Lennon to come inside onto his stronger right foot. Lennon had been switched to the right after making no impression whatsoever on Enrique.

A very watchable game of end-to-end football, played to two totally committed, well-matched teams – spoiled only by the repeated simulation of a couple of the Spurs players, particularly Van der Vaart who quite frankly is a disgrace to the game.

Mark Halsey refereed the game very well, but sadly failed to book the Dutch cheat for his pathetic acting, and also allowed him to walk away scott-free after viciously hacking down Joey Barton.

PS: we really missed Chiek Tiote again today.

“But when you have been here like I have, you know the problems at this football club have never been the crowd, never been the passion of the people and the support of the club in the city. That has always been there through thick and thin, thin and thinner. It does not surprise me – although it always knocks you back – because this is Newcastle. The fans are top-rate and my job is to get a team that eventually matches them. It is a tough ask and we still have some way to go.”

What a man he was! That was when the likes of Danny boy and Fabz watch 12,000 Toon Army come to St. James’s Park on Wednesday to watch them on training under the pouring rain.

Keegan also speak (once again) that his relationships with everyone else at the club directors are never been closer than they are now. He said that everyone tried so hard to bring in new players this season and if the reality check is that there’s only a few that finally come in, that’s something beyond their power.

“Sends out a message – if we’re going to fetch new players in, let them be quality” Keegan added.

But to speak the truth, the selling of Abdoulaye Faye to Stoke City last night has raised my eyebrows. Faye penning a three-year deal with the Potters. The 30-year-old signed from Bolton Wanderers in the last minutes of last year’s August transfer deadline, and he also did leave the Toon exactly like the way he came.

Well, I only can say goodluck to him and thanks for all that he has done for Newcastle. In my opinion, he was one of the very rare Toon players that have been good last season.

Meanwhile, Jonas Gutierrez says he will do all he can to help Coloccini find his feet on Tyneside, “I am very happy that we have another Argentinean at Newcastle and I will do all I can to help him” He said as quoted from the official site.

Gutierrez also delighted that his Argentina team-mate finally signed with Newcastle United and will be looking forward to play together after for the last three seasons both have to fight each other in different team in Spanish La Liga.

“I know from playing against Fabricio in La Liga and as a team-mate for Argentina what a good player he is – I’m just happy we’re on the same side all of the time now!,” Guti told nufc.co.uk in an exclusive interview.

Is he worth that much?

Coloccini started his career in the youth team of Argentinos Juniors, but made his professional debut in 1998 with Boca Juniors. In 1999, at the end of the Apertura championship, he moved to A.C. Milan but only made just one appearance with them in 2004-2005 season before move out to Deportivo de La Coruña in 2004.

I can’t wait to see Fabz in action for Newcastle this season, and due to his ancestry, Coloccini also holds an Italian passport and that would make him eligible to go straight into Newcastle first team on Sunday match at Old Trafford.

Below are interesting Opta’s statistic table fro Setanta sports about our current defenders and Coloccini’s record in Spain during the last season campaign.

Keegan will be pleased to sign central-defender Coloccini for £8.25m this weekend, and the United official announcement is expected on Monday.

Coloccini will join his Argentine national team-mate Jonas Gutierrez who already signed for Toon last month. Both would be usefull addition to our thin squad, especially in defence. We have suffered 65 goals last season, one of the worst season in United Premiership years.

With Coloccini presence, KK is hoping to have find the perfect player to break our worst defensive record. And other news coming today that Keegan is also chasing Blackburn’s £5m-rated left back Stephen Warnock.