Match report from nufc.com
The 150th competitive Tyne-wear derby ended in a deserved defeat for Newcastle on Saturday, as the mackems made it three successive wins over their deadliest rivals for the first time in ninety years.
The last two derby meetings had seen dubious refereeing decisions leave United nursing a sense of injustice, but there was absolutely no doubt this time as a complete non-performance from the home side was duly punished.
With Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse and Loic Remy all absent, Alan Pardew opted for Shola Ameobi to lead the line, naming new loan arrival Luuk De Jong on the bench.
There was never any hint of a breakthrough for the home side though, before the yellow-clad mackems burst into the area on 19 minutes. Vurnon Anita illegally halted the run of Phil Bardsley and Fabio Borini netted the resultant penalty with ease in front of the Leazes End.
Before anything approaching a comeback was sighted, the visitors swarmed forward again and Jack Colback's shot was deflected for Adam Johnson to knock home.
Entirely justified boos and abuse accompanied the half time whistle after a stunningly inept display from the home side that lacked strength, application, leadership, pace and desire. Quite simply, we did nothing properly.
A raft of alleged international players not only showed little appetite and no desire to chase lost causes, but also a criminal lack of commitment and talent. Poor decision-making across a jittery back four was echoed by bone-headed attempts at crossing and passing, while the departure of our dead ball expert made free kicks and corners a total waste of time.
De Jong replaced Sammy Ameobi for the second half with Ben Arfa switching to the left flank, but the improvement was only marginal - Vito Mannone stretched on just one occasion when Tiote's shot was on target.
Without building any momentum, United did contrive to deliver the ball into the mackem box on a few occasions. None of the half-chances created were converted though and a major let-off at the other end saw Johnson smack his curling effort off a post.
Any lingering hopes of a late revival by United were then extinguished after 80 minutes, when Ben Arfa weakly surrendered possession on halfway and Jack Colback swept the ball home after an upfield break to give the mackems a three goal advantage here once again.
Before the game could restart, one home fan made it on to the pitch and attempted to hand his season ticket to Pardew before stewards intervened.
Some post-match confrontations between home followers and police in the city were reported, but nothing on a par with the scenes witnessed here last time thankfully.
Statistics show a fourth successive home defeat in all competitions and a third in the Premier League without scoring, but beyond that lies an overwhelming sense of gloom across Tyneside following the sale of Cabaye and completely predictable failure to sign a replacement.
The atmosphere was apprehensive and scarcely got any better on a day when a collective uplift from the team was desperately required. Those clad in black and white though chose to post a woefully clueless performance that wouldn't have been acceptable in a pre-season friendly, let alone a match of this magnitude.
Here's another stat: in four games when they faced each other in the dugout, it's Poyet 4 Pardew 0. Sadly lacking in tactical prowess, the United boss again demonstrated that his motivational qualities are as poor for derby matches as for cup ties. God alone knows what those next to him on the bench bring to the party.
Add in unconvincing attempts to defend his superiors and any credibility he had is draining away at a rate of knots. Were our current manager to disappear tonight and never be seen again, barely an eyebrow would be raised.
The issues at hand are far bigger than him though and swapping him for the next out of work boss prepared to be hung out to dry by his employer would solve nothing. Ironically enough, that successor looked as if it may have been Poyet at one point between his Brighton exit and mackem move.
And here's some more bad news - there's no more chance of Hatem Ben Arfa inspiring his colleagues and filling the vacant midfield creator slot than another busted flush Sylvain Marveaux, introduced here for his first league appearance in over four months. It showed.
As was the case at the stadium of plight last October, a thoroughly average mackem side collected three points gifted to them by their generous regional rivals, earning their win thanks to a measure application and composure completely lacking by the team higher up the table.
Toon fans can feel aggrieved by the transfer dealings (or lack of them), but a large chunk of blame has to lie on the field for a woeful performance. Lacking conviction to a criminal degree, this was simply shameful.
Team: Krul, Debuchy, Santon (Dummett 64), Tiote, Williamson, S.Taylor, Sissoko, Anita (Marveaux 74), Sh.Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Sa Ameobi (De Jong 46).
Subs n/u: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong.
Booked: Santon, Dummett
smbfc: Mannone, Bardsley, Alonso, Bridcutt, O'Shea, Brown, Johnson (Larsson 77), Ki, Altidore, Colback, Borini (Gardner 89).
Subs n/u: Wickham, Giaccherini, Vergini, Scocco, Ustari
Booked: O'Shea, Borini
Goals: Borini 19(pen), Johnson 23, Colback 80
Referee: Phil Dowd
Crowd: 52,280 - highest of the season.
Obviously the ticket sales for May's Kings of Leon gig at SJP are flagging, judging by the desperate attempts at plugging it on the PA today. Playing wall to wall tunes by the band was a tactic resorted to with no great success when Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart appeared here.