A drab, boring affair was predicted by many for this Sky Live match. With Everton playing five across the middle, few expected it to be a riveting game, with a chant from the East Stand more likely than a goalmouth scramble. However, with both sets of backlines clearly off form, this proved to be an open, flowing game, as end to end as any in the modern era at Gallowgate.

The Toffees, like most teams that enter the visiting changing rooms at St James’, were fully expected to come with a game plan to leave with their beloved point. They came on a high, undefeated in the league and with the thrashing of Liverpool still fresh in the back of their minds. It was vital that we didn’t underestimate them; they’re a very good side in my eyes. They play to their strengths, usually a solid defensive game mixed in with powerful, direct forward play with excellent movement from midfield.

The injury of winger Damien Duff in training on Friday allowed the explosive starlet Charles N’Zogbia a return to the first team fold. James Miner deservedly kept his slot on the right wing after impressing at West Ham the previous Sunday. Parker and Emre were once again in the centre, and as of late, continued their fine form and displayed another encouraging performance to indicate that they are starting to gel nicely as a threatening, hard working and dynamic midfield pair.

After Baba’s disgraceful antics against the impressive Dirk Kuyt in midweek, Glenn Roeder had another selection headache. Titus Bramble mysteriously regained his place alongside the, more often than not, solid Craig Moore. Peter “Rampage” was once again played out of position at left back and the average Carr didn’t even need to break sweat before he looked at the team sheet. Unfortunately, he is assured a place in the side until the January window, that’s how short we are at the back. Steven Taylor, on most days our best defender, was surplus to requirements and placed on the bench. Surely if Roeder sees him as a worse defender than Bramble we should have accepted one of the three bids for him over the summer, one reportedly being £6.5 from Spurs.
Olivier Bernard was once again deemed unfit, not even worthy of a place in the squad. One must wonder what state he is in if he cannot even get himself match fit in a month since returning to the club.

Shola Ameobi, fast becoming the new Lazarus, shook off yet another injury enough to earn his, well deserved, place in the starting line up alongside the explosive Martins.

Harps, after his catastrophe in midweek, took the keepers jersey, and didn’t he get a brilliant reception as he ran into the cauldron? As Local Hero blasted out, the Gallowgate all rose as one, a standing ovation thoroughly deserved, in my opinion, to one of the clubs outstanding servants for the last decade and a half.

The game, itself, started poorly. Everton set out their stall to kick and hack their way to a point, tactics more at home in the boxing ring. The early exchanges saw no real action of note. A lot of huff and puff, but no real goalmouth scares for either side until, the ever dangerous, Emre coolly placed the ball down to whip a trademark free kick into the danger zone. The team wearing blue, clearly confident after a solid start, decided to, foolishly, all run out as the ball was being delivered. This allowed a totally unmarked Ameobi to slot the ball under the onrushing Howard, to the delight and surprise of the home faithful. On closer inspection, the replays showed Ameobi to be a good yard offside. A clear mistake from the Referee’s Assistant, but no-one in the Black and White dug out was complaining. If Everton were going to employ such a risky ploy in defence, you have to expect the odd error and, fortunately, it was to United’s advantage. The goal is unlikely to win any goal of the month awards, but they all count, and it could prove to be pivotal come May.

Rather than galvanising the home side, it was the visitors that were stunned into action. They dominated the next stage of play. Tim Cahill blasted over from 20 yards and Andy Johnson missed an absolute sitter of a header. Gaps were certainly appearing in the Toon Army rearguard, which has become increasing alarming all season, even since the mediocre Lillestrom bossed us on our own patch.

The sign of a poor defence is the fact you have to single your keeper out for praise. Unfortunately, Harper had to pull off a string of saves to keep us in the lead, and, ultimately, in the match. “You defend from the front” is a saying often heard in football. How the hell can we defend from the front when we can’t even defend from the back? We have centre backs playing as full backs, full backs slapping opposition strikers, defenders sliding in left, right and centre and, worst of all, not even tracking a man. There is only one person to blame for this: Shepherd. We had ALL summer, four bloody months, to sort out the ridiculous situation. Boumsong rightly left the club, seemingly to be replaced by Jonathan Woodgate…or Robert Huth… or Zat Knight…the list is endless. Come midnight on September 1st and not one, yes, NOT ONE, defender had come through the incoming doors at St James’. This is unacceptable, especially with a squad decimated by injuries and already dwindling in numbers.

What makes matters worse is the absolutely diabolical performance of Titus Bramble. It says something about a Central Defender when he gets sent off and you start to defend better as a team. A disgraceful lunge late on brought the, very welcome, premature end of one of the most lacklustre, worrying and down right crap individual performances I, personally, have ever witnessed from a Newcastle United player. To put it simply, Titus Bramble is not fit to wear the beloved Black and White stripes. However, as always, I will continue to back him 100% if he plays. Criticising players by booing during a match is pathetic; anyone who does that should stay at home.

Back to the match Everton were, deservedly, on terms before the interval, to the delight of the, half full, visiting support. The blue half of Merseyside must have thought if was Christmas, as surely they will have had few goals more gift wrapped for them in recent seasons. A regulation cross from Arteta allowed a totally unmarked Cahill to power home a bullet header. Quite how none of Moore, Bramble or Carr picked up the Australian is mystifying. But then again, marking one of the best headers’ of the ball in the Premiership is asking a bit too much of all three of them.

Half time duly arrived, with an even first half ending all square.

An interesting observation during the interval was that while United were still having their half time mug of coco, Everton were out, looking bright and alert, doing short sharp passing between them to keep up their sharpness before the second period began.

Thoroughly expecting United to fold in the second period, many fans were delighted to be proved wrong. We came out strong, focussed and determined to bag all three points.

As the game developed, it got more stretched than many a game at SJP. This allowed the influential and impressive wingers, N’Zogbia and Milner, to dominate the flanks. Power, pace and precision from the youngsters allowed many a flowing moves to be created down each side of the pitch. Plenty of crisp passing in midfield followed, with Parker and Emre bossing the central area.

The best chance of the half followed a long ball to the 5′7″ Martins. All his own working, he showed immense battling qualities to first of all shrug off Yobo, no mean feat, and then slide tackle to win the ball back. His final attempted lob unfortunately hit the large frame of Howard, but it is this determination and quality that will, in my mind, win over the hearts of the home faithful. Don’t forget that he is only 21 and was player alongside a player of limited abilities in Sibierski. Although a lot of credit has to go to the Frenchman as well though. He had a fine game, doing everything that the Gaffer could have asked of him and a bit more.

Minutes later, Bramble provided us with his pathetic lunge and was rightly dismissed. Disgraceful.

He didn’t have to wait long for company in the tunnel, though. Hibbert shortly followed for a second bookable offence. Perhaps the two played “snap” in the changing rooms, a card game at roughly their level of intelligence, based on their reckless actions on the pitch.

The two red’s opened the game up dramatically. Fast, flowing fluent football followed freely with both sides creating openings. The game, reminiscent of the Keegan era, remarkably remained unchanged in the goals column for the remaining minutes of the ninety.

So that was it. In the end we got a fair point from a match that had everything. Goals, fine saves, missed chances, penalty appeals, debatable decisions, two dismissals and unfortunate injuries made it an entertaining, if not profitable, afternoon for the Geordie faithful. Though, of course we’d all go home much happier with a dull 1-0 and three points in the bag.

I apologise, unnecessarily, for probably ruining this match report with my ramblings at Bramble, and, in general, our woeful defence. We, as fans, as a club and as a city deserve better. We have to place our trust in Roeder to provide it in January.

We have the potential to have a very good squad here. A fine set of keepers and a dynamic, often outstanding, set of midfields have provided us with a solid base to work from.

When fit, we have a very good set of strikers, probably one quality player away from being “outstanding”. We may have to wait a season or two to see the full force of Owen, Martins and Ameobi, but it’ll be worth it when it happens. The potential is there for everyone to see.

However, we need a leader at the back, someone to nurture Taylor. We also need two full backs of genuine quality. Until we have this, any immediate progress from the club will be limited.

Keeping the faith, as always.