Scrappy new year!
A YEAR ago, Newcastle United were humiliated at St James's Park by Liverpool.
The 5-1 defeat led to Shay Given's January departure, and set the tone for what was to follow – a grim battle against relegation the club would ultimately lose.
It's fair to say Newcastle's fans – who didn't know where their team's next win was coming from last term – have relished their visits to St James's Park more this season, despite the less glamorous sides visiting the stadium.
But few, aside from the Derby County fans high up in the Leazes End, will have enjoyed yesterday's game, though, thankfully, frustration, and not humiliation, was the overriding emotion.
However, the game begged the question of just how United, should they win promotion, will be able to break down sides in the Premier League next season without major investment if they can't find a way past a side struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.
Ryan Taylor seemed in a hurry to leave the ground, you couldn't blame him, as the match essentially turned on his first-half effort.
Put through by a defence-splitting pass from Jonas Gutierrez, the winger – recalled to Chris Hughton's side after two games – almost had too much time.
Having struck the crossbar with a trademark free kick earlier in the half, Taylor seemed in a hurry to beat Stephen Bywater in the visiting goal, and his early shot was stopped by the goalkeeper.
And for all Newcastle's domination, clear-cut chances were few and far between from then on, though Ryan's namesake Steven will have felt he should have buried a second-half header.
Another clean sheet was little consolation for the defender, such was the desire to put the disappointing Boxing Day draw at Sheffield Wednesday behind them with a win.
United – who open their FA Cup campaign away to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday – now have the best part of two weeks to reflect on the draw, and a lead at the top of the division which has been shrunk to six points in the space of three days.
The reflection started no sooner than the players entered the dressing room, the players being kept in by Hughton and his assistant Colin Calderwood.
What was said, is open to question, but unlike at Hillsborough, it wasn't defending that was the problem on the pitch, but Newcastle's final ball, which deteriorated the longer the game went on.
Still, credit must go to Nigel Clough's Derby, whose doggedness and determination, qualities associated more with Hughton's side than any other in the league this season, ensured they claimed a seventh away point of the season.
United's players will want to get this result out of their systems as soon as possible, but a break away from what's already proved a gruelling campaign, both physically and mentally, will probably do them more good than harm.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; R Taylor (Pancrate, 71), Smith, Nolan, Gutierrez; Carroll (Ameobi, 65), Lovenkrands (Ranger, 78). Subs not used: Krul, Kadar, Butt, Guthrie.
DERBY COUNTY: Bywater; Connolly, Addison, Buxton, McEverley; Green, Savage, Pearson, Hendrie (Commons, 69); Hulse, Campbell (Livermore, 90). Subs not used: Deeney, Croft, Teale, Pringle, Dickov.
Goals: None
Bookings: McEverley 33, Hulse 42, Savage 87, Nolan 89
Sent off: McEverley 90
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)
Attendance: 47,505
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
