The game at the weekend wasn’t a disaster and it wasn’t entirely unexpected in terms of the result, but it was still mega disappointing to come away with a 3-0 scoreline against us. That sort of result usually depicts an utterly one-sided affair, but for what it’s worth I think a 2-0 might have been a bit more befitting of the actual performance. If anything (and despite Nicky Butt’s protestations to the contrary in the Journal today) it was nice to watch an open game of football.

Had this been Big Sam’s Black and White Army then it would have been 4-5-1, ten men behind the ball for most of the game and a dour, uninspiring scoreline. The fact that we at least had a go, tried to play some football, but were ultimately beaten by a far superior side was fair enough – although I would have loved for us to have managed a goal. Perhaps Special K is saving the goals for ‘Boro this weekend? I’d personally not mind two defeats to the Gunners if a spanking of the Smog Monsters followed.

It’s going to take more than two games to really reap the rewards of this crazy managerial appointment, but I still think we’ve seen enough to presume that there are better times ahead, and that’s the thought that I take to bed each night in order to keep me going. Under Sam Allardyce the light at the end of the tunnel post-Shepherd burned brightly, but soon faded, this cannot be allowed to happen under Kevin Keegan.

Man of the Match: Shay Given

We’ll probably see a similar scoreline and a similar line-up on Tuesday night, but I’d love us to bag a goal to get some slither of momentum rolling before what is an important match at Gallowgate this Sunday. Howay the lads, even when there is probably no hope…

The fact of the matter is we aren’t used to playing the way that KK wants us to play and it’s going to take a few more weeks for us to settle in well and be able to put on a performance that lasts past the half way mark.

All I want is a goal! Whether it be an own goal or a deflection or a scrappy struggle over the line; I don’t really care. We just need to end that drought and start banging them in at the other end.

What we lack is a centre forward in goalscoring form. Viduka is in and out of the side while Owen just doesn’t have that confidence. We need a CF that will score every week no matter what. It’s a risk at the money being quoted but I would try for Berbatov; he’d be perfect for the team to get that confidence building again.

We played well, we passed the ball against a good passing side at their stadium; you can only get positives from there. We could even have been ahead early on if it wasn’t for the clearance off the line and ignoring the second half, we matched them pretty much over the entire park.

That being said, it puts us in good stead for the game on Tuesday night. Going straight back to the same place isn’t always easy but with Viduka back in the side, if we get the ball to his feet there should be more chances for the likes of Owen and (hopefully) a goal will come.

Can we do it? Yes. Will we do it? I don’t know.