After having a quiet beverage in the Navigation and hearing Ray192’s cricket stories, I braced the Riverside in a determined manner (before and after walking past thousands of Geordies with the paedo chants).

I finally entered my seat and took a deep sigh in seeing the vast array of empty seats (ooops! My mistake), filled seats and that gave me a good feeling that this was going to be an entertaining game.

Our line –up was expected, you couldn’t argue with the change of O’Neil out injured so step Julio Arca a fans favourite to which he scored in this fixture last season so that a good omen for us.

The game was a little gritty to start, both sides midfield seeing a lot of the ball as they kept it, gave it away, then we got it back, then they got it back and as much as it sounded confusing I just seemed to feel frustrated that no-one from either sides midfield actually ran at them, took a man on and made a dangerous pass.

My concern in my preview was Mr Obefemi Martins; in the first half my concern nearly turned into shock as he swivelled with the ball, turned past Wheater and hit the bar. I hoped that would be a wake up call for us to up our game.

Downing whipped in a good cross for Alves to nod it over, again a well-worked move with Aliadiere beforehand, heading it down only for Alves not to have a death touch like Inzaghi in mid-week.

So half time, get a bit warm and hopefully look forward to Boro’s counter attacking and for us to ram one in and shut the Geordies up.
We attacked well, really well. Alves was an option and what made it even better he was a threat. Downing crossed in time and time again, an in form striker would have relished the opportunities.

We saw the return of the fat greedy bastard; Viduka braced the Riverside faithful for the second time and in terms of the run of the mill script that follows Boro, I was worried.

He looked lively but us poms could keep him out as the Duke was fishing. He showed more input than Michael Owen could all game, what a fall from the top he’s had. He needs to get out of there before slips further into the mediocre.

On the whole I think both teams would be relatively happy with a point, Newcastle slightly more than us to be fair as the away team.