Magpie Syndrome

If Manchester City v Newcastle United had turned out to be a goalfest, more than a few spectators would have needed treatment for shock, because this was the meeting of two sides who find it difficult to score and, in the case of the Geordies, also embarrassingly easy to concede.

So when City’s Joey Barton broke through in the 6th minute with only the goalkeeper to beat, Newcastle fans were braced, ready for the worst. And when the same player made space for a fine volley from the edge of the box 8 minutes later, they half expected it to go in. Fortunately neither did. Barton’s first attempt flew just wide of the far post and his second brought a good save from Harper – but both chances exposed Newcastle’s shabby defending and as such set the tone for a game in which for more than 80 minutes only the home team looked likely to break the deadlock.

Then for some unaccountable reason Newcastle crammed all their serious offensive play into the last 5 minutes, but alas, to no avail. A good chance was spurned in the 89th minute when Samaras headed wide. A brilliant one touch sequence of passes ended with Kieron Dyer coming close and in the 91st minute Parker’s shot was gratefully pushed for a corner by Nicky Weaver.

It doesn’t take a genius to identify Newcastle’s strengths and weaknesses. They are capable of playing attractive football in midfield (even with the talented Emre sometimes giving the impression that his mind is elsewhere) and sometimes they create chances but since they were deprived by serious injury of Michael Owen’s services and more recently of Martins and Ameobi, they’ve seldom given the impression that they have anyone who can score goals regularly. Add to that a lack of stability and class at the back, and particularly at centre back, which has dogged Newcastle for several seasons and it’s easy to see why this famous club is currently languishing in the lower reaches of the Premiership.

And until they solve their problems that, unfortunately, is where they are likely to remain.