Prior to that Shay Given had been forced into a smart stop from the super-quick Petrov (who I thought Habib Beye handled admirably for the most part, being more let down on the odd occasion by whoever his right winger was failing to cover Michael Ball’s frequent forays forwards.) I like Beye more and more with every passing game and it’s a real shame we’re losing him to the ACN – along with arguably our second most “successful” signing under Sam to date, the impressive Faye. I didn’t think that big Abdoulaye could actually play in the middle of the park, but I think his performances in the last two games suggest otherwise.

Apart from all the positives that the game brought, there are the usual glaring negatives. Taylor and Cacapa still looked shaky at the back – especially worrying when you consider that Man City only played Vassell up top and really weren’t all that expansive – James Milner had the epitome of an “all work, no skill” game, he was especially infuriating when he turned Richard Dunne to open up a few yards of space for his left-peg, then tried to turn him again instead of putting a ball in for the strikers. In truth, neither winger but in a ball worth any note for the entire game from what I remember, which is disgusting when you sit and think about it, because they both had plenty of the ball. Nicky Butt was poor as well, but he’s allowed an off day after numerous good games for us recently, amidst the s****.

And finally, Obafemi Martins. Now I know this lad has legions of fans here because he’s a bit of a party piece who has a bit of unpredictability and flair about him, but I personally preferred Lua Lua. At least that African trickster actually had a few tricks and could dribble the football, he also didn’t cost upwards of £10M and he excited the fans when he was brought from the bench because they know he could do something. For all the time Martins has been here I just cannot work him out. Is he an extreme confidence player? Has he had his head turned by all the transfer speculation surrounding him? Does he just lack the basic fundamental knowledge of the game? I’m desperately trying to love him – and I support him to the death when he’s in our colours – but he frustrates the hell out of me and I’m personally glad to see Michael Owen looking like he might play a game or two while Oba’s away.

The second half was Man City all the way, and I never felt we looked like coming back to take anything from the game. It was a match that brought advocates of giving Allardyce time severly into question, as we were outclassed by opponents who faired worse than ourselves last season, but now find themselves in the Top four under a manager who like Alardyce was newly appointed last summer. At the very least, there should be signs of the club moving forward, under Allardyce ther are simply no such signs in evidence.

And so, we go into an FA Cup game at the weekend with our season hanging in the balance, low morale amongst both players and fans. Stoke are going along well in the Championship, and with home advantage to boot, I can really see us being turned over.

So much for the ‘new year, new start’ that we all had hoped for, as on Wednesday night, Newcastle United produced another disappointing performance to add another disappointing result to a disappointing season; how disappointing.

Manchester City came, and like so many before them, set up their stall and were allowed to play football on their terms; this is at St James Park for goodness sake - games we should be controlling we are not. The players are not playing, the manager is not managing and the fans are not fanning.

I’m actually getting sick and bored of writing these comments now. Something I was more than happy to do at the beginning of the season when some of the panel members dropped out, I now almost despise. I mean who wants to talk so depressingly week in, week out?

I used to love football, be so passionate to talk about. Ever since Sir Bobby was sacked, that has changed. That spark is fading fast and is almost non-existent, and is probably the same with many other Geordie fans. How have things declined so rapidly?

Something is going terribly wrong at this club, it’s as if we’ve gone back three years and Graeme Souness is at the helm again. Sadly, things are not going to get better until changes are made; whether that is the manager or the players, I don’t know, but something has to happen and it’s down to Mike Ashley and Chris Mort; our season is in their hands. It’s time to back or sack.