Three games unbeaten and entirely typically for the Toon, we believed we’d made it. We began lethargic, sloppy and overconfident, and surprise, surprise quickly found ourselves a goal down - yet again. Newcastle have an amazing capacity to embarrass, especially during the holiday periods, and once again they came up trumps.

We were shockingly bad: no urgency or cohesion, second to almost every ball, sloppy passing, lacking in movement - the lack of support for the man in possession plumbs new depths today - no control in midfield, creaky in defence, and quite frankly you would never have guessed which team was bottom of the league with only six points.

Derby simply wanted it more than we did. We salvaged a point, which was a tad fortunate. Big deal - we were shite.

How many saves did the Derby keeper have to make from all these chances we created? I can recall one, from a cross by Duff that everyone missed.

I’m not getting into the managerial issue, but sorry man, that performance was woeful, and imho there’s no disguising it. Derby wanted it more than we did, and that was the difference.

About Martins, I thought he was abject today. What’s more his body language stinks. And yes, I do know this is almost certainly because he is being asked to play on the right - that’s no excuse imho, I’d have taken him off at half-time, He was about as good as a man off anyway.

Sam Allardyce said at the official site that no Newcastle United players will be leaving St.James’ Park during the January transfer window. We are set to lose African quartet Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye, Geremi and Oba Martins when they join up with their national squads for next month’s Cup of Nations in Ghana.

Without them, we will be four players short from our first team squad and Big Sam will not making it worst by letting any other player to go in January. He even insists to bring in more to improve the team performance.

“My squad will be depleted in January with four players heading off to the African Cup of Nations,” said Allardyce, “There is no room for me to let anyone go.”

Big Sam also denied any speculations telling him already having a conversation with City boss Eriksson about Michael Owen. He tells the press today during the Fulham’s pre-match conference.

“It is about, if anything, bringing some players in to bolster the squad, not just for the players who are missing for the African Nations, but hopefully, if it is there, to get us better to see us through this season.”

Meanwhile, former Real Madrid and Chelsea star, Geremi who will join up with his Cameroon team-mates in the middle of next month ahead of the African Cup tournament in Ghana, has determined to leave Newcastle United in good shape. He wants to lead Newcastle team tomorrow for our second away win since the Bolton’s match.

“I’m not thinking yet about the African Nations Cup – not at all,” Geremi told the Gazette. “I’m still thinking about the team, as we have not been doing well. Hopefully, we are going to change that and climb the table.”

Just found this from soccernet, who doing a poll about the English Premier League Managers rating based on their monthly fixtures result.

They are looking to gauge how the club supporters think of their club manager is performing. Are they doing a good job at the helm, or are they letting the fans down. I was a bit of surprise to see that Roy Keane was in 7th place, while Big Sam was in 8th position in September. And where is Sam in December?

Found out HERE and make your vote in the poll on each manager’s page.