Only three goals conceded in four outings since the opening day of the season, with six goals scored kicking us provisionally up to fifth with a game in hand over one of the teams ahead of us. The statistics and the results look good thus far, and ostensibly it’s been a rip-roaring start to this season’s campaign, but it hasn’t quite been plain sailing.

Perhaps top-flight football really had changed, and the days of superior sides thrashing the living daylights out of inferior sides week-in week-out are gone, but to me at least, it seems as if that kind of comfort zone isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

Only today, Liverpool knocked Derby six ways from Saturday, and though just two points ahead of us so far, I would implore any fan suffering from headrush to look at how convincing they have been in their games compared to our jittery encounters. Sam Allardyce, of course, is still building his team, and this summer’s transfer window has been tremendously fruitful, but the team have yet to gel with any real cohesion with so many creative players out, but immense heart can be taken from the fact that we can consistently claw for results, when, as circumstance sometimes dictates, it’s more important not to lose, than to win.

It’s a mature, acquired philosophy; one that is perhaps a logical and necessary step if Allardyce is to progress to be that long-term manager that we come to trust with our team as Arsenal do Wenger and Man Utd do Ferguson.

Newcastle fans though, I hope, will never settle permanently for 1-0s, and when the time is right, will see the Entertainers captivate us with epic demolitions of the opposition and not last-minute nail-biting drama!

Game 3: Middlesbrough (a)

Goal 2: Mido

Blame: Steven Taylor

Reason: In all fairness, Mido and Taylor both did very well, but Mido came out on top. Taylor was good enough to stop him if he’d been just a little more alert. No travesty though, especially after such a good start to the season for Taylor.

Game 3: Middlesbrough (a)

Goal 3: Julio Arca

Blame: James Milner

Reason: Bad team work in general with many marking no one in particular and just floating around, but Milner was marshalling the edge of the area and ball-watching until Arca lined up his shot and it was too late.

BLAME COUNT - Season 07/08

Responsible For 1 Goal Conceded

Stepher Carr
Steven Taylor
James Milner

Please note, that Owen scoring twice recently and consequently “delighting” McClaren did not headline this article. Appreciate.