Why Pardew's Newcastle cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves

Alan Pardew's Newcastle are in an alarming run of form

Around this time last year, I wrote a blog post arguing it was time to start taking Alan Pardew's Newcastle side seriously.

They were flying high in third place in the Premier League - similarly to West Brom this season - yet they were not getting the credit they deserved.

The general consensus was that they would eventually fall away and finish in mid-table, but they defied their critics to maintain their form and ultimately finish in a brilliant fifth.

This season, though, the tables have been turned.

Newcastle's form has slipped so alarmingly that they are currently 14th in the Premier League, but, similarly to last year, the feeling is they are in a false position. To believe that, though, would be dangerous and wrong.

Pardew's side are exactly where they deserve to be based on their performances. In fact, it could be argued they should be one or two places lower.

But for the majority of the derby game at Sunderland and a couple of Europa League wins, Newcastle have not had one fully satisfying and convincing performance yet this season, so they cannot claim to deserve to be any higher than they are.

They have now lost their last three Premier League games, and all three fixtures seemed eminently winnable.

Home games against West Ham United and Swansea City, followed by an away match at Southampton, should be fixtures to relish for any aspiring side.

For Newcastle to get no points from the nine available is more than alarming. It's embarrassing.

If they are not careful, they will be dragged into a relegation battle. They are certainly playing poorly enough to be sucked in.

There is zero depth to Pardew's squad and the club is now paying for its penny-pinching policy.

In the absence of key players like Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa, youngsters like Shane Ferguson and Sammy Ameobi are being relied upon far too much.

Ameobi has looked good in patches, but is not yet good enough to be a first-team regular

Ferguson and Ameobi undoubtedly have talent and have shown it in glimpses, but they are not yet ready to be regular starters in the Premier League.

Newcastle have an excellent crop of eight players who would be good enough to play in most teams in the country, but beyond that there is very little.

When two or more of those eight are unavailable, the team is simply not good enough.

With youngster Haris Vuckic injured, Cabaye is the only creative midfielder at the club, and when he is also unavailable, Newcastle are predictable and easy to stop.

Pardew has persisted with a 4-4-2 formation throughout the season, with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse up-front, but it is painfully obvious the Senegalese pair cannot play together effectively.

They did play well together during the second half of last season, but Cisse was in the form of his life during that period and Ba was pushed out to the left.

An obvious option for Pardew should be to drop Cisse, who has looked a shadow of the player of last season, play Ba up-front on his own and have a three-man central midfield. That would stop Newcastle being over-run in that area and allow the wide players more freedom to roam.

However, Pardew's only central midfield options at this time are defensive, while his wide players are hardly consistent.

He would surely like to play Ben Arfa behind Ba, with two out-and-out wingers, but at this time that would mean playing Jonas Gutierrez - who is a defensive winger - and a player like Gabriel Obertan or Sammy Ameobi on the flanks, and Pardew would have virtually zero confidence in a ploy like that working.

So for now, he is persisting with the Ba-Cisse partnership, and Newcastle are limping their way through the campaign.

Their squad is simply not big enough for the rigours of the Europa League, and the club has missed a huge opportunity to build on last year's success.

Four or five players needed to be added to the squad just to beef up the options available to Pardew, but funds were not forthcoming and Newcastle are now paying for it.

There is no doubt the Magpies have been incredibly unlucky with injuries and suspensions, with fringe players like Vuckic, Dan Gosling and Ryan Taylor out long-term, Cabaye missing, Cheick Tiote and Fabricio Coloccini missing games after red cards and Ben Arfa now ruled out for at least two weeks.

However, those injuries should not be used as an excuse for Newcastle's poor form.

Yesterday's pitiful performance and defeat at Southampton came when Pardew had just three first-team regulars missing, so there is more to Newcastle's recent slump than bad luck.

Even when the likes of Coloccini, Ben Arfa and Cabaye have been in the team, Newcastle have still not been good enough this season.

They have only won three times in 13 league games, and two of those - against Tottenham and West Brom - were barely deserved.

Ben Arfa has been Newcastle's best player so far, along with the free-scoring Ba, but Cabaye has looked off-the-pace for the most part and even Ben Arfa has not performed on a consistent basis.

Ben Arfa is a magician at times, and his absence over the next two weeks will be keenly felt

There is no doubt he has been the team's biggest threat, but he has also at times been wasteful and defenders have dealt with him effectively.

Perhaps Pardew's Newcastle have simply been worked out, perhaps the team have become too comfortable, perhaps Pardew has made tactical mistakes and perhaps injuries and suspensions have scuppered their chances.

However, now is not the time for them to feel sorry for themselves.

Pardew has the security of his unprecedented eight-year deal, so shouldn't be too concerned about his future.

You wouldn't find too many Newcastle fans who would want to see Pardew leave given the miracles he performed last season, and it is likely they will stand by him for the foreseeable future.

There is only so long that will be the case, though, so Newcastle need to have an upturn in their fortunes soon.

It could be argued Pardew himself is too comfortable with his eight-year deal and should be managing with the pressures of any other top-flight boss, but to question his future at this stage would be harsh in the extreme.

It is only six months since he was named manager of the season, so to call for his head now would be folly.

When Graeme Souness was Newcastle manager, he used to say the club was only ever two consecutive defeats away from a crisis, but Pardew is not quite in that situation left.

He will be given plenty of time to turn things around, starting with their trip to Stoke on Wednesday.

That will be another extremely difficult task, and could very well lead to a fourth straight league defeat for Newcastle.

They would then go into the Wigan home game badly in need of three points to stop themselves being dragged ever nearer to the bottom three, so Newcastle need their excellent fans fully behind them now.

The fans will need to be patient, as the lack of depth to Pardew's squad is painfully obvious and they don't look like a team on the brink of a good run of form.

This season is now a dangerous one for Newcastle and if they're not careful, a long, hard campaign will lie ahead.

They still have plenty of time to turn it around and now is not the time to panic, but they badly need a positive result soon.

Last season's success seems a long time ago and Newcastle cannot afford to be thinking back to that.

This campaign is a fresh one and the challenges for them are different, but a top-eight finish would still be a success if they could somehow achieve it.

At the moment, even the top-half is a long way away but Newcastle are only a win or two from forcing their way in there.

In contrast, a defeat or two could plunge them into the relegation zone, so now is a crucial time in Newcastle's season.

Get the next few fixtures right, and the heights of last season may not seem so unreachable. Get them wrong, though, and the rot could begin to set in.

It is time for Pardew to earn his dough. He needs to again prove why he has been given an eight-year contract and work a few more miracles on Tyneside. It's not going to be easy.

Nile Ranger helps Newcastle U21s to derby draw

Full-time: Sunderland U21s 2-2 Newcastle U21s

Nile Ranger made his long-awaited return for Newcastle in their U21 Wear-Tyne derby at Sunderland tonight, and marked the occasion with a well-taken goal.

Ranger, who had not made an appearance in the black-and-white of Newcastle for eight months since a reserves outing against Chelsea, played for just over an hour and looked lively throughout.

He particularly impressed early on and did not take long to open the scoring.

The striker gave Newcastle the lead after being played in by Bradden Inman on eight minutes. He coolly slotted the ball past home keeper Jordan Pickford after striding past two defenders.

Ranger almost doubled the lead five minutes later, but his cross-cum-shot went agonisingly over.

Inman later had a decent chance saved by Pickford. Sunderland went down the other end of the pitch and pegged Newcastle back on 19 minutes, with England U21 international Connor Wickham on hand to slide home a cross from Roarie Deacon.

Newcastle skipper Curtis Good could have regained the lead for the visitors after the ball fell to him following a corner, but his powerful shot was straight at Pickford, who parried it away.

In the 36th minute, the Magpies did retake the lead.

The ball fell to the lively Inman just inside the Sunderland box after the home side failed to clear following a Mehdi Abeid effort, and Inman’s subsequent shot deflected into the corner of Pickford’s goal.

Newcastle took their one-goal advantage into half-time, and could have gone further ahead 20 minutes after the restart.

Inman and Ranger combined to set up Marcus Maddison on the inside corner of the box, but he got his left-foot shot horribly wrong and his effort sailed into the stands.

That chance looked set to prove crucial when Wickham was nudged in the box moments later, with referee Gary Beswick pointing to the spot.

However, Adam Reed spurned the opportunity when his subsequent penalty came back off the inside of the post.

Reed's penalty was well struck to the right of keeper Jak Alnwick's goal, and Alnwick dived the wrong way, but the ball bounced away to safety.

Ranger, clearly lacking match sharpness, was withdrawn and replaced by Dennis Knight after 67 minutes, but he will have been pleased with the shift he put in.

Sunderland almost equalised moments later after more good work by Wickham, but Craig Lynch's shot was beaten away by Alnwick to preserve the visitors' lead.

Wickham had a number of efforts, but saw two attempts fly over the bar as the home side pressed for a leveller against Peter Beardsley's men.

It was Newcastle who had the better chances though, and they would have gone 3-1 up but for a great save by Pickford.

Abeid's superb through ball fell perfectly for Jonathan Hooper just inside the box, but Pickford was alert to the danger, closed down the striker and parried the effort away.

Sunderland then withdrew Wickham, who had been their biggest threat but proved largely wasteful in front of goal.

The Black Cats were unable to make any real impact without Wickham, but struck a leveller in stoppage time.

Lynch cut in from the left and struck a left-foot effort into the bottom corner, giving the hosts a deserved point from a hard-fought encounter.

Abeid did have a later chance but he blazed his effort over inside the box to give both sides a point.

Half-time report: Ranger returns with goal for Newcastle U21s

Nile Ranger made his long-awaited return for Newcastle in their U21 Wear-Tyne derby at Sunderland tonight, and marked the occasion with a well-taken goal.

Ranger, who had not made an appearance in the black-and-white of Newcastle for eight months since a reserves outing against Chelsea, impressed early on and did not take long to open the scoring.

The striker gave Newcastle the lead after being played in by Bradden Inman on eight minutes. He coolly slotted the ball past home keeper Jordan Pickford.

Ranger almost doubled the lead five minutes later, but his cross-cum-shot went agonisingly over.

Inman later had a decent chance saved by Pickford. Sunderland went down the other end of the pitch and pegged Newcastle back on 19 minutes, with England U21 international Connor Wickham on hand to slide home a cross from Roarie Deacon.

Newcastle skipper Curtis Good could have regained the lead for the visitors after the ball fell to him following a corner, but his powerful shot was straight at Pickford, who parried it away.

In the 36th minute, the Magpies did retake the lead.

The ball fell to the lively Inman just inside the Sunderland box after the home side failed to clear following a Mehdi Abeid effort, and Inman's subsequent shot deflected into the corner of Pikcford's goal.

Wear-Tyne derby: Toon leave Wearside upbeat despite late leveller

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was satisfied with his side's 1-1 draw with Sunderland

If you had offered Newcastle United fans a point following Cheick Tiote’s dismissal at Sunderland yesterday, you can be sure the majority would have taken it.

With in excess of 65 minutes still to play at the Stadium of Light, the Magpies were winning 1-0 thanks to Yohan Cabaye’s excellent third-minute finish, but Tiote’s red card left them facing an unenviable task.

It took the Black Cats until four minutes from the end to finally bundle home an equaliser, and but for some bad luck from a Seb Larsson free-kick, Newcastle would have held on for a famous victory.

They had repelled the likes of James McClean, Stephane Sessegnon, Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson admirably, and while the Sunderland quartet all disappointed, that was in large part due to excellent Newcastle defending.

Fabricio Coloccini was a class apart at the back and it is no coincidence Sunderland’s leveller came when he had left the pitch.

Credit must also go to Mike Williamson, Davide Santon, Danny Simpson and James Perch for keeping Sunderland’s attackers quiet, but it was Coloccini who held it all together.

Yesterday’s game proved Newcastle are a completely different proposition with the Argentinean defender in their team, with his composure, skill and doggedness not only keeping Sunderland at bay, but also calming his team-mates in the process.

Toon manager Alan Pardew remarked after the game that his captain’s performance “was like watching Bobby Moore”, and that is a compliment his captain thoroughly merited.

In an encounter where attacking talents were expected to shine, Coloccini deservedly picked up the man of the match award and showed just what Newcastle have been missing in recent weeks due to his injury absence.

I have never seen a better defender in a Newcastle shirt, and Coloccini’s display at the Stadium of Light yesterday was certainly one of the best defensive performances in the club’s recent history.

Until Tiote’s sending off in the 25th minute, Newcastle were by far the better side.

For all the pre-match talk of Sunderland being favourites, it was the visitors who sprinted out of the blocks and Cabaye’s opener was the least they deserved.

However, the Ivorian then turned the game on its head with his crazy sending off.

His challenge on Fletcher was dangerous, reckless and thoroughly deserving of a red card, which was made all the more moronic given the referee had already blown for a foul in Tiote’s favour before he dived in on the Scot.

Tiote has been walking a disciplinary tightrope for some time

Many fans have defended Tiote and insist he should not have been sent off, and one argument they have given is that Sunderland’s Larsson was not even given a booking for an equally reckless challenge on Shola Ameobi.

Larsson’s foot was so high it almost took Ameobi’s head off, and he at least deserved a yellow card, but Tiote could have no real complaints.

His dismissal also led to Ameobi being sacrificed by Pardew, which clearly disappointed the front-man.

However, it was a wise decision by the manager to bring the striker off, as Newcastle could no longer afford to play two up-front, Demba Ba offered a better goal threat and Ameobi was on a booking due to his part in the aftermath of Tiote’s dismissal.

Newcastle coped admirably with their one man disadvantage and were worthy of at least a point.

They will be the team most satisfied by their performance in the cold light of day, however galling it was to lose their lead with time running out.

Ba was desperately unlucky after a dogged display up-front to head Larsson’s free-kick into his own net, but the Magpies managed to hold on for a point.

Both sides will have been relieved with the draw, but for very different reasons.

Sunderland will have been delighted not to lose the game having trailed for so long, while Newcastle must have feared the worst after Tiote’s red.

In truth, they didn’t come under anywhere near as much pressure as they might have expected until the last 10 minutes, when their legs were weary and Sunderland managed to gather some momentum.

It was a typically ferocious and atmospheric derby, but unfortunately it is again off-the-field matters which are dominating the headlines.

A Sunderland fan is being investigated for allegedly racially abusing Ba, while neither set of supporters covered themselves in glory.

While a relatively small number of arrests were made, a section of Sunderland fans chanted the moronic “We wish you were dead” at Toon defender Steven Taylor in retaliation to his ill-advised pre-match comments, and some Newcastle supporters chanted equally tasteless songs about Lee Cattermole and Jimmy Savile.

Neither side can take the moral high ground when it comes to chanting as both showed extremely poor taste.

It is disappointing that this is even a talking-point but it seemed inevitable due to the intense build-up this fixture always invites.

For Newcastle, they will have left Wearside with mixed emotions but the overriding one should be upbeat as they proved just what a good and resilient side they are.

If they had managed to keep 11 men on the pitch, they would surely have fancied their chances of taking another three points back to Tyneside, but they can’t be too devastated by a solitary one.

Newcastle once again had the better of a derby and their performance should stand them in good stead. Their season is finally up and running and they should feel much more positive now with their pride very much intact.

Time for Newcastle's youngsters to make their breakthrough

Prospects like Sammy Ameobi and Haris Vuckic will be eager to make an impression in the next 12 months

There are a number of promising youngsters coming through at Newcastle United and next season should be a crucial one in their development.

A Europa League campaign ought to offer the likes of Haris Vuckic, Shane Ferguson, James Tavernier and Sammy Ameobi a route into the first-team as the fixture schedule is likely to be packed and manager Alan Pardew will need to utilise his squad.

The aforementioned players have shown promising glimpses in their limited first-team experiences so far, but they can't afford to waste the next year of their careers and must force their way into the reckoning.

Vuckic's talent has been obvious since the moment he moved to St James' Park from Slovenian outfit NK Domzale as a fresh-faced 16-year-old in 2009.

He made his debut later that year in the League Cup and immediately looked confident and it seemed inevitable he would swiftly become a Newcastle regular.

Vuckic can play in the centre of midfield or slightly further forward and at 6ft 3in he has a physical presence which should allow him to make an impact at a young age.

However, his career has been blighted by injuries since his initial early appearances for the Magpies and he now desperately needs a breakthrough season.

Vuckic has been incredibly unlucky. He missed most of his first season with knee and ankle injuries and dislocated his finger on his Premier League debut in August 2011 after impressing in pre-season.

That knock caused him to miss four months of first-team action, but he showed enough on his first Premier League start in December 2011 to highlight his potential.

Vuckic looked raw but West Brom struggled to handle him and he went close with a number of superb, ferocious long-range efforts.

He also impressed the season before in the Carling Cup against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, so much so that the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea were said to be considering a move for him.

The Slovenian has been lauded as a wonderkid for three years now though and, at 19, he will be wanting to make an impact at St James' Park now.

Vuckic spent some time on loan at Cardiff last season but only played five times before returning to Newcastle, where he again struggled with injuries.

His career has been extremely stop-start but Newcastle could do with an exciting young player like him making the breakthrough ahead of what will be a testing campaign.

He will turn 20 in August so he still has time on his side, but if he is to realise his potential, the forthcoming season will be a crucial one for him.

As for Ferguson, he looks lightweight for the Premier League but has worked hard to gain strength and is clearly highly-rated by Pardew.

Ferguson will turn 21 before the start of the season

Again, he has been given chances in the League Cup and made a few cameo appearances in the league without ever establishing himself in the first-team squad.

A substitute performance against Stoke in the 2010/11 season, capped by a weaving run which almost resulted in a consolation goal for a Newcastle side that were well beaten at the Britannia Stadium, offered a lot of hope but Ferguson finds his route to the first-team blocked.

Jonas Gutierrez's industry makes him a crucial member of the team for Pardew and it is hard to see Ferguson displacing him soon.

The left-back slot may be a more realistic opportunity for Ferguson to fight his way in though, with Davide Santon a possible right-back should Danny Simpson leave.

Tavernier is yet to make an appearance in the league for Newcastle but loan spells at Gateshead, Carlisle, Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons have built up his experience and he looks ready to challenge for a place in the first-team squad next season.

He signed a new three-year deal at St James' Park earlier this week after speculation about his future, and Newcastle's lack of strength in depth in defence should give him some opportunities to prove his worth to Pardew in the next campaign.

Another youngster looking to have a big season will be Nile Ranger, who Newcastle have seemingly tried endlessly to get off their books.

Ranger is very raw but showed a lot of good signs in Newcastle's Championship-winning campaign, although his off-the-pitch scrapes seem to have scuppered his chances of success with the Magpies.

If he can somehow knuckle down and concentrate on his football, he has enough about him to revive his career and unlock his potential, but it will be up to him to prove to Pardew that he is a changed man.

Ranger's career has stalled over the last year

With fringe strikers Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best leaving St James' Park this summer and the possibility of both Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse spending time at the African Cup of Nations next season, Ranger could earn himself a first-team chance.

There are plenty of others who will be looking for a big campaign, such as Dan Gosling, Sammy Ameobi and Mehdi Abeid, so Pardew has an array of youngsters at his disposal who offer great hope for the future.

Newcastle are always on the lookout for new talent, too, as the acquisition of Coventry's Gael Bigirimana and Frenchman Romain Amalfitano proved, so the talent currently at the club know they only have a limited time to prove their worth before someone else is brought in and placed ahead of them in the queue.

The Europa League campaign should be a blessing for those youngsters as Pardew is likely to give some a chance both in that competition, the League Cup and the league, but it is up to them to make an impact quickly or become forgotten men who have to ply their trade away from St James' Park, at least temporarily.

Newcastle haven't had a great track record of developing youngsters good enough for the Premier League, with Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi and Steven Taylor the only real top flight players the club has produced recently, along with Tim Krul, who was signed late in his development.

For every Carroll or Taylor there has been a Tamas Kadar or Matty Pattison, but there is a growing belief there are a number of youngsters at the club ready to make an impact.

Newcastle's current batch of youngsters are extremely talented, but now is the time for them to shine.

The future for Newcastle looks bright regardless due to their successful transfer policy, but the young players already on their books need to make sure they are a part of it.

Why Newcastle fans won't shed a tear if Aston Villa go down

This was just one of the 'hilarious' banners on show at Villa Park as Newcastle were relegated

Sunday, 24 May 2009 is a date etched in the memories of most Newcastle United fans.

It was the culmination of a season of mismanagement from owner Mike Ashley and pitiful effort from the club's 'star' players.

Supporters watched on in despair at Villa Park as Newcastle slipped into the Championship after a 1-0 defeat, with the future looking extremely bleak.

Less than three years later though and Magpies fans can now look back on the day as a necessary pill they had to swallow.

The club has undergone three hugely successful seasons since that fateful day, starting with their march to the Championship title and then last season's comfortable mid-table Premier League finish.

This campaign has been beyond most fans' dreams as Newcastle have deservedly fought their way into fifth place with just five games remaining, with a top four finish still a distinct possibility under Alan Pardew.

The pain of the relegation still remains but fans can almost look back on that spring day of 2009 and smile.

Would their club be where it is today without being relegated that day?

Chris Hughton deserves much of the credit for the success the club has had since then, as his calm and sensible management the following season allowed the club to bounce back to the top-flight at the first attempt.

Big-name players and high earners like Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Geremi and Damien Duff were among those to jump ship in the aftermath of relegation and the club was a lot better for it.

A season in the Championship allowed the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique to blossom and settle, and all have left a lasting impression on the club.

Coloccini and Gutierrez continue to shine in black-and-white, Nolan contributed goals aplenty including a hat-trick against the club's bitter rivals Sunderland, Carroll eventually departed and left the club £35million richer and Enrique developed into one of the best left-backs Newcastle has seen, certainly in the last 20 years.

There were many other success stories in that Championship campaign and that has continued over the last two seasons with new stars who have thrived on Tyneside.

Relegation may have been less than three years ago but Newcastle fans have had so much reason to celebrate since then that it seems a lot longer ago.

It's ironic that the club who sent Newcastle down on that sunny day in May should find themselves in a similar situation three seasons later.

Aston Villa's fanbase has seemed disgruntled all season, and understandably so given the newly-stringent ownership of Randy Lerner and unpopular management of Alex McLeish.

McLeish has endured a disappointing first season at Villa Park

Attendances at Villa Park have dwindled and big-name players haven't performed, which has forced the club into a relegation battle.

Villa are currently six points above the drop zone with five games remaining, but should still have enough to survive.

However, if they were to go down, you wouldn't find too many tears for them on Tyneside.

Football fans have long memories and Newcastle fans certainly haven't forgotten how their relegation was celebrated by Villa fans in 2009.

They revelled in Newcastle's demise and came prepared for the game with banners including "Who's your next Messiah, Ant or Dec?" and "Sob on the Tyne".

Of course, most sets of supporters make the most of it when their team sends another down, but not many go to the trouble of preparing banners and celebrating in the way Villa fans did that day.

It would have been understandable if the clubs had been long-term rivals (which Villa and Newcastle weren't), but their taunts and 'banter' crossed the line.

However, things have changed dramatically since then and it is now Villa who find themselves battling relegation while Newcastle are the side in the top six of the Premier League, as Villa were that day.

The Toon Army's tears certainly flowed at Villa Park in 2009 but since then they have had a lot more to smile about than their Villa counterparts.

Ironically, Newcastle's success since relegation should show Villa that going down can mark the start of a new beginning.

It could be exactly what the club needs.

It would allow the likes of Gary Gardner, Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark to shine and gain confidence in the same way Newcastle's relegation did for Carroll et al.

The likes of Gardner could benefit from a season in the Championship

Villa fans are unlikely to see it that way though and will be desperate for their team to survive - which they should - but they won't be getting any sympathy from Newcastle supporters if they do drop into the Championship.

Magpies assistant manager John Carver this week described the reaction of Villa fans to Newcastle's relegation as "outrageous", and the Toon Army certainly had their chance to gain revenge and laugh at their counterparts when their side thumped Villa 6-0 last season.

Among the chants at St James' Park that day was "You're not laughing anymore" but that won't have been the end of the matter for many and it would give some real pleasure to see Villa fans suffer in the same way they did.

As a whole, Aston Villa is a great club and most of their supporters are loyal and fair, but the actions of some of their support in May 2009 have not been forgotten.

It would be sad to see a club of their stature languishing in the Championship but they had very little sympathy for Newcastle when they lost their place in the Premier League so shouldn't expect any now if they are to suffer the same fate.

Villa's next two fixtures - at home against Sunderland and Bolton - will be crucial in their attempt to remain a Premier League club and they should get enough from those games to see them safe.

If they do fail though, they would find themselves in exactly the same position Newcastle fell into three years ago.

It's doubtful Norwich fans would goad them on the final day in the same way Villa did to Newcastle in 2009 but Toon Army supporters at Everton on the same day would ensure they revelled in it.

That would be Karma personified.

Will Dalglish and Liverpool ditch Carroll in the summer after Newcastle defeat?

Andy Carroll suffered a humiliating first return to St James' Park yesterday

In the build-up to yesterday's much anticipated clash between Newcastle and Liverpool at St James' Park, Andy Carroll let it be known that were he to score, he wouldn't celebrate.

He wouldn't rub it in to the fans who used to chant his name and wouldn't show contempt for the club which gave him his big break in professional football.

However, within 10 minutes, he did show a complete lack of respect to his former club with a disgraceful dive which summed up his ineptitude in a Liverpool shirt.

Carroll had rounded Tim Krul and just needed to slot the ball into an empty net, but chose to throw himself to the floor and earned himself a deserved booking and, presumably, a place in Team GB's diving team for the Olympics this summer.

On this evidence, he's got more chance of making that team than he has of forcing his way into Stuart Pearce's football squad for either the Olympics or Euro 2012.

In fairness to him, he started yesterday's game looking more like the player who lit up the Premier League for Newcastle in the first six months of last season and more like the player Kenny Dalglish decided to spend £35million on.

He still didn't look worth that price-tag - in truth, even at his best he never did - but he did look like he'd be a threat to Newcastle throughout the game.

If he had slotted the opportunity away within 10 minutes, that would have set the tone for the rest of the match but he bottled it and had to deal with the consequences.

From the moment Papiss Cisse expertly headed home after some slack defending from Martin Skrtel on 19 minutes, there was only one team in it.

Carroll did have one more chance, which he headed over from close range, but would have felt humiliated long before Dalglish dragged him off with Liverpool 2-0 down and more than 10 minutes still remaining.

The 23-year-old was jeered and abused for the entire time he was on the pitch by the fans who used to cheer him, and the substitution would have just rubbed salt into his wounds.

It has become clear over recent months that Carroll is out of his depth at Anfield and Dalglish made a massive mistake to spend £35million on him just over a year ago, and it would be no surprise if he was offloaded in the summer.

The foul-mouthed tirade Carroll launched at Dalglish upon being subbed and subsequent storm straight up the tunnel will not have helped his chances of remaining a Liverpool player for much longer.

Carroll was clearly furious after being substituted

Dalglish was clearly trying to make a point by withdrawing Carroll at 2-0 down when the team were desperately looking for goals to get them back in the game that his performances have simply not been good enough and he will have to significantly improve if he is to save his Liverpool career.

If the Reds could recoup anywhere near the fee they spent for him in the summer, there can be little doubt they would offload him.

Their trouble will be that a club would be extremely foolish to spend anywhere near £15million for him, never mind £35million.

His reported £80,000 a week wages would also have to be significantly slashed were he to move, so it may be that Liverpool are stuck with him along with Dalglish's other costly flops, most notably Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing.

Around £75million has been spent on those three players alone and yesterday's defeat to Newcastle showed just how much of a fallacy their transfer strategy has been.

While Carroll toiled, his successor in the famous black-and-white number nine jersey thrived.

Papiss Cisse's brace took his tally to seven goals in seven games since his reported £9million switch from Freiburg in January, which is two more league goals than Carroll has scored in 15 months for the Anfield club.

Cisse looks the real deal with his movement, finishing and composure drawing comparisons to great Newcastle goalscorers of the past, including Andy Cole.

Cisse has started his Newcastle career in stunning fashion

As well as Cisse, the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote have all been brought in relatively cheaply and all were superb against Liverpool, while James Perch and Mike Williamson's performances were as good as any.

Newcastle thoroughly deserved their victory over Liverpool - despite Danny Simpson's handball on the line in the first half - and are now 11 points better off than the Merseysiders, so it is clear which transfer policy works best.

Alan Pardew and his scouting network have brought in some superb players and they deservedly sit in the top six of the Premier League, a fact Magpies fans ensured Jose Enrique did not forget with repeated chants of "Jose Enrique, we're in the top six", referring to Twitter comments by the player last summer suggesting the club's transfer policy meant a return to European competition was impossible.

Carroll's humiliation was complete as he was substituted and Enrique's ended with a bizarre cameo in goal.

Pepe Reina deservedly saw red for a ridiculous headbutt on Perch - who certainly made the most of whatever contact there was - and Newcastle fans revelled in seeing their former left-back suffer the ignominy of pulling on the goalkeeper's jersey for the closing stages.

Carroll and Enrique may point to their Carling Cup winner's medals to justify their decisions to swap Tyneside for Merseyside - as well as significantly improved bank balances - but as far as the league campaign is concerned, their new side has been embarrassed by their lack of success compared to the prudent Magpies.

Liverpool have now lost six of their last seven league games and their lack of form in the league cannot be defended by their performances in the cups.

Liverpool is too big a club to be classed as a 'cup team' so a tag like that should be embarrassing for Dalglish and the club's owners.

Dalglish is likely to survive this period as fans still appear unwavering in their support for him, but whether the likes of Carroll will is a major doubt.

His confidence will now be at an all-time low after the humiliation of his first return to Tyneside, and it would be no surprise if both he and the club wish to go their separate ways this summer.

Carroll will find it difficult to find a club willing to spend the amount of money it would take to get him out of Anfield and the wages he would demand, and many have predicted he will one day return to Newcastle.

After yesterday's events and the reception he received at St James' Park, it appears he wouldn't be welcomed back with open arms.

His career is at a crossroads as he looks out of his depth and lacking the desire to succeed, so it is hard to see where he will go from here.

As for Newcastle, everything is looking very rosy for them.

The spectre of the summer's transfer window still looms large, with Ba and Tiote both heavily linked with moves, but after the club's recent successes in the transfer market, they should be trusted to make the correct decisions.

Cisse is already looking like a superb player and if the team can continue to play like this, a top-five finish is not out of the question.

A top-four placing still looks fanciful but whatever happens in their remaining seven games, this has been a superb season for them.

Many predicted they would face a relegation battle after losing key players last summer, but they simply replaced them with better ones and now look sensational.

Fans are loving the club's revival and Pardew deserves tremendous credit - perhaps even the manager of the year award - for the unbelievable job he has done at St James' Park.

Pardew has built an excellent team at Newcastle

Even the loss of captain Fabricio Coloccini did not derail them against Liverpool, with Williamson and Perch dealing with the likes of Carroll and Luis Suarez superbly.

Newcastle produced a magnificent team display sprinkled with individual genius from the likes of Ben Arfa and Cisse and nothing should be taken away from them.

They were brilliant but Liverpool were shocking for much of the game.

They were epitomised by Carroll's performance and the big number nine may be angling for a move back to Newcastle.

However, on this evidence, it is hard to see why they would want him.

Pardew is still a big fan of him and Carroll was tremendous for around 12 months in a Newcastle shirt, but the Magpies play a different style now and to add Carroll to that would only unsettle what Pardew has built over the course of this season.

Carroll could be in for a very lonely summer unless he can somehow find form in the remaining games of this season.

Of course, it is still feasible he could score the winning goal in the FA Cup final and salvage his career at Anfield, but unless Liverpool and Dalglish adopt a much more direct style it is hard to see how they will get the best out of him.

To spend £35million on a player who simply doesn't fit in with a team's style of play was barbaric and Liverpool will have it confirmed to them in the summer just how much Carroll's stock has fallen in the period since they signed him.

They would be lucky to get a fee of £10million for him and, however hard they try to offload him, they will find it extremely difficult to.

Carroll could soon find himself as the unwanted man as no club will want to spend a significant fee on him and Liverpool and Dalglish's patience may soon wear thin if it hasn't already.

Dalglish has stuck by Carroll throughout his underwhelming spell of form

Dalglish's withdrawal of Carroll yesterday may have been a sign that his faith is wavering and it is hard to see how the striker can come back from this.

Liverpool appear stuck with him and he appears stuck with them, so the next few years should be very interesting.

Carroll should look back on last January's decision to leave Newcastle with enormous regret.

He looked like a player with tremendous potential and that potential is still surely intact, but he has struggled to fit in with Liverpool's style of play and the burden of his huge price-tag looks to have weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Carroll was described as the 'next Alan Shearer' during his time at St James' Park but now looks more like the new Michael Ricketts.

The £35million fee Liverpool spent on him looked ridiculous at the time and now looks more like daylight robbery.

Yesterday's return to St James' Park for Carroll - and Enrique - could not have been much more humiliating and his confidence must now be shattered.

He is still living in a Liverpool hotel and is still thought to crave a move back to the North-East, but with his diving antics yesterday he has now burnt the bridges he had remaining on Tyneside.

His tirade at Dalglish may have had the same effect on Merseyside and it will be extremely interesting to see if the Scot sticks with his record signing this summer.

Carroll does not look like a Liverpool player and, if they can somehow find a club to take him off their hands, it would be no surprise to see Dalglish cut his losses on him soon.

Hatem Ben Arfa proves his worth as Newcastle snatch draw against Sunderland

Shola Ameobi's stoppage time leveller rescued Newcastle a draw against Sunderland

Shola Ameobi has never been universally popular among Newcastle fans.

He is seen by many as lazy and his overall goalscoring record doesn't help his cause, but against Sunderland he turns into a different player.

He once again came up trumps in the Tyne-Wear derby yesterday to earn the Magpies a deserved point in a 1-1 draw. Perhaps he should be saved exclusively for these occasions.

To be fair to him, he was superb in the 3-0 victory over Manchester United in January, but it is against Sunderland when he really comes into his own.

He has the ability to terrorise defenders and it is frustrating he cannot produce performances like this consistently, but he is guaranteed a place in Geordie folklore for his record against the Black Cats.

His tally in the fixture now stands at seven goals - second only to the great Jackie Milburn - and that record ensures Newcastle fans will look back on him with a smile on their faces when he retires.

The turning point in this game was undoubtedly the red card shown to Stephane Sessegnon in the 58th minute, with the Benin forward showing a complete lack of discipline in elbowing Cheick Tiote.

Sessegnon's red card invited pressure onto Sunderland

Tiote's reaction was over-the-top but it was a definite red card offence and handed the initiative to the home side, who were already showing signs of a second-half fightback after going 1-0 behind in the first-half.

Nicklas Bendtner's penalty gave Sunderland that lead after the increasingly clumsy-looking Mike Williamson pulled Michael Turner's shirt, while Tim Krul also had to be on his guard to pull off a superb double save from Sebastian Larsson and James McClean.

Hatem Ben Arfa's second-half performance proved why he should have a regular place in manager Alan Pardew's starting eleven.

Ben Arfa still gives the ball away too often but he is so slippery, tricky and talented that it is a massive waste to see him sitting on the bench.

He terrorised Sunderland at times in the second-half and he has the ability to do things other players can only dream of.

Ben Arfa is Newcastle's most gifted player and he makes things happen, which was ideal against a defence as resolute as Sunderland's.

He was certainly much more of a threat on the wing than Ryan Taylor, who switched to left-back - where he looked much more comfortable - at the break after Davide Santon was brought off.

There will always be frustration and question marks where Ben Arfa is concerned, but some of his play is breathtaking and makes all the negatives worth it.

The number 10 can unlock teams and his performance against Sunderland should be his breakthrough at St James' Park - his displays from now on have to be up to this standard.

Some of the mazy dribbles Ben Arfa goes on are incredible - although he has a habit of forgetting the ball from time to time - and his goal against Blackburn in the FA Cup was one of the best in Newcastle's recent history.

His talent merits a place in Pardew's team and this performance should have proved that to the manager.

Newcastle dominated after Sunderland went down to 10 men and even missed a penalty with eight minutes left when Demba Ba's spot-kick was superbly stopped by Simon Mignolet.

When the penalty was awarded, Pardew needlessly goaded Sunderland's bench and that is something he should look back on with a lot of regret.

Pardew lost his cool when his side were awarded the penalty

He showed a complete lack of class and it is clear the emotion of the occasion got to him, but he should have showed a lot more respect for opposing manager Martin O'Neill and his backroom staff.

It is clear the occasion got to Pardew.

Unless you live in the area, it is impossible to understand the passion and build-up which surrounds this fixture and the pressure on all involved in it to get a positive result.

Everything seemed to have built up inside Pardew, from Sunderland's rough tactics to the ferocity of the crowd and relief at getting the penalty, but he can have no excuses. He should have channelled those emotions in a different way.

Pardew be given a lot of praise for his role in the draw though, as his subs Ameobi and Ben Arfa were central to the second-half dominance.

Sessegnon's dismissal undoubtedly played a part in that dominance but Sunderland only have themselves to blame for their ill-discipline.

Lee Cattermole was red-carded after the final whistle for abusing referee Mike Dean, and this is a problem O'Neill will have to rectify.

Cattermole set the tone in the first minute with an ugly foul on Tiote which earned him a booking, something Pardew was clearly angered by.

Tiote and Cattermole had a running battle

Cattermole is a player who is always on the disciplinary tightrope but O'Neill needs his captain to set a positive example for his team-mates to follow.

This was certainly not the prettiest game you are likely to see, but it was full of passion and incident, while the atmosphere in the stadium left no player in any doubt as to what the fixture meant.

Aside from the superb noise generated from the supporters, the game was exhilarating and encapsulated everything this derby is about.

It had it all: controversy, goals, a missed penalty, chances galore, skirmishes and late, late drama.

The draw proved the two sides are not far apart but should ensure Newcastle finish the season as the region's top team.

They could have even won it when Williamson squandered a late, late chance, but the draw was a fair result and one Newcastle should be pleased with given the endeavour and fighting spirit they showed in getting the equaliser.

They are still in the superb position of sixth and if Pardew can lead his side through the final 11 fixtures and keep them there, he will have to be a major contender for manager of the year.

Ben Arfa's display certainly proved his worth to the manager but in truth, this day was Ameobi's.

The number 23 has been given a harsh time over the years but his record in this fixture will always ensure his status as a cult hero among Newcastle fans.

He may not be a great goalscorer, but Ameobi is the man for the big occasion. He is the man for derby day.

Newcastle fans shouldn't be too despondent after Wolves draw

Terry Connor's Wolves fought back to earn a 2-2 draw with Alan Pardew's Newcastle

Newcastle 2-2 Wolves

It was certainly a case of two points dropped rather than one point gained for Newcastle United this afternoon against Wolves.

However, fans need to keep a sense of perspective rather than vilify the players who have taken the club to an improbable position in the top six of the Premier League.

People can be excused for being frustrated with the way Alan Pardew's team threw away a 2-0 lead against the side from the Black Country, with defensive lapses becoming far too common in recent weeks.

But if someone had suggested before the season began that Newcastle would be in sixth place going into March and just three points shy of the Champions League places, most would have laughed in their face.

Of course, it is important the Magpies follow up their superb start to the season by securing a place in Europe, and performances like the one against Wolves will not help them achieve that.

They were sloppy in possession, shaky at the back and lacked a general attacking threat as the game went on and that will be a concern to Pardew as the team he selected is arguably his full-strength side minus the stricken Steven Taylor.

Demba Ba was starved of service, Yohan Cabaye didn't look at his best in midfield and Mike Williamson continued his poor run of form, while several others struggled to make an impact when Pardew needed them.

It all looked rosy for Newcastle though as they went 2-0 ahead within 18 minutes, with Papiss Cisse scoring a poacher's effort and Jonas Gutierrez netting a scorching second.

Aside from a magnificent save to deny Danny Simpson though, visiting goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was rarely troubled.

Wolves' confidence seemed to grow with every successful pass and a point was the least they deserved for their endeavour.

If new manager Terry Connor can inspire his side to this sort of performance week in, week out for the remainder of the season, they surely won't be relegated.

In truth, Newcastle's 2-0 half-time lead flattered them.

They had certainly improved markedly on their showing in the first 45 minutes of their last game at Tottenham - they couldn't be any worse than that - but the signs were there that Wolves were not out of it.

Within five minutes of the restart, Connor's side were back in the game courtesy of a deflected Matt Jarvis effort and the industrious Kevin Doyle put them on level terms on 66 minutes after Williamson failed to clear a Jamie O'Hara free-kick.

Doyle's equaliser was a reward for his and Wolves' hard work

Danny Guthrie and Hatem Ben Arfa were introduced by Pardew immediately before the equaliser and the latter looked the most likely player in black and white to score a winner.

Ben Arfa twice shot wide but although he provided the biggest threat to Wolves' largely solid defence, he also frustrated in equal measure with his use of the ball.

As for Guthrie, the less said about his performance the better.

He has arguably been Newcastle's best player in recent weeks and was extremely unfortunate to be left out of the starting eleven to make way for the returning Cheik Tiote.

However, he barely made one successful pass and the impetus his introduction should have given the Magpies was severely lacking.

Guthrie can't be blamed for the draw though - the fact is the team as a whole deserved no more than a point.

Wolves could even be considered unlucky not to have taken all three points away from St James' Park, and Connor will be delighted by the efforts of his players.

Deposed boss Mick McCarthy must be wondering why they didn't play like that for him during his final weeks at the club.

On the evidence of this game, there are certainly worse teams in the Premier League than Wolves and they should have no serious problems with avoiding relegation.

If Newcastle are to be considered Champions League - or even Europa League - material though these are the matches they need to be winning.

Pardew admitted after the draw that it felt like a defeat but the situation is far from doom and gloom on the pitch for the club's supporters.

Pardew will have been disappointed with the way his side surrendered a two-goal advantage

There have been too many off days recently but, overall, Magpies fans should be delighted with where their club currently stands.

A top six finish is certainly still within their grasps and next weekend's mouthwatering derby clash with Sunderland could be exactly what they need to get the last two games out of their system.

It would have been nice for them to get a simple win against Wolves but this is Newcastle United we are talking about. It is extremely rare for them to do anything the easy way and that is why this season has been so refreshing.

It has been largely steady and rewarding - albeit with a few bumps along the way - and there are still far more positives than negatives.

The Wolves draw was certainly disappointing for Newcastle but in the grand scheme of things, it was a minor blip.

They shouldn't be drawing games from a position of a two-goal lead and their passing and defending need to improve, but now is certainly not the time to panic.

Newcastle are still in the top six and merit that position, so the players deserve continued backing from the fans.

Some of those players are punching well above their weight and will make mistakes from time to time, but they are all doing honest jobs and helping to provide Newcastle with their best season in quite some time.

The prospect of the Champions League is tantalising but the true goal must be a place in the top seven, or top six if possible.

Newcastle are still having a superb season and it is important people do not lose sight of that - however frustrating days like this are.

Chris Hughton's reputation continues to grow at Birmingham

Chris Hughton has done a remarkable job in difficult circumstances at Birmingham

To say Chris Hughton hasn't had the easiest of starts to his managerial career would be an understatement.

He took the reigns at Newcastle when the club was at its lowest ebb and became Birmingham manager under similar circumstances.

He left Newcastle in a comfortable position in the Premier League after a superb Championship-winning campaign, and they wouldn't be where they are today if it wasn't for Hughton.

Without him, there is a real chance the Magpies would still be in the second tier - or worse.

After their relegation from the Premier League in 2009, not many expected them to bounce straight back, with many established players departing and owner Mike Ashley refusing to replace them.

They infamously lost 6-1 at Leyton Orient in a pre-season friendly - a result which led many to suggest Newcastle were set for back-to-back relegations - yet Hughton somehow salvaged the situation, got his best players performing and took the Championship by storm.

They destroyed all before them in that season before impressing in the Premier League, with a 5-1 thrashing of local rivals Sunderland, 6-0 win against Aston Villa and 1-0 triumph at Arsenal earning Hughton hero status on Tyneside.

He was then ruthlessly sacked, and although many will now look back on the decision to replace him with Alan Pardew as correct, Hughton still deserved much more for his efforts.

The job he took on at Birmingham last summer was arguably even more difficult than the one he had at Newcastle.

With the Magpies, his squad may have been threadbare but it did not lack quality.

It still had the very strong spine of Steve Harper, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll among others, but Hughton had no such luxuries at Birmingham.

He was stripped of almost all of his best players in the summer, including the likes of Craig Gardner, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, and saw more key players depart in January.

Somehow, he has led his hard-working side to third place in the Championship, within two points of the promotion places, despite an inauspicious start.

Hughton has been working on a shoestring budget at St Andrews and has relied on loan signings and free transfers, so deserves enormous credit for the job he has done.

The likes of Marlon King are spearheading Birmingham's promotion push

Birmingham also had an extremely positive time in the Europa League - despite their group stage exit - and the whole place seems reinvigorated by the club's upturn in fortunes.

That is down to Hughton and his calming influence, and it can only be hoped that he is allowed to see the job through with the Blues, something which was snatched away from him on Tyneside.

He has led Birmingham to a run of 12 games without defeat and they are still in the FA Cup, while their form suggests promotion is a real possibility.

That would be an incredible achievement by Hughton given the chaos of Carson Yeung's ownership. He is certainly the man for a crisis.

The job he has done so far at Birmingham is as good as any other manager in the country has done this season, and it is time Hughton is given the admiration he deserves from everyone in the game.

For some, he is still just a 'coach', but he has now surely proved beyond doubt he is in fact an excellent manager capable of achieving success in any circumstances.

Hughton has got the maximum he possibly could out of his players this season and has now installed a winning mentality at St Andrews, just as he did at St James' Park.

The likes of Nathan Redmond have flourished this season under Hughton's guidance, while the manager has moulded a promotion-challenging team capable of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Promotion seemed impossible at the start of the season for Birmingham but Hughton looks like he might just make it happen.

It would have been easy for him to turn the job down given the chaos which surrounded the club last summer, but he took a chance and put his reputation on the line by accepting it.

Hughton's managerial career is still in its primitive stage, but he surely couldn't have achieved more than he has done at both Newcastle and Birmingham.

Newcastle fans are enjoying seeing their side in the top five of the Premier League under Pardew, but they have not forgotten the input of Hughton.

They know they wouldn't be in the position they are without him, and he has now underlined his ability as a manager in even more difficult circumstances at Birmingham.

Chris Hughton might be relatively unheralded outside of Newcastle and Birmingham, but all that should be about to change.

If he were to achieve promotion with the Blues, he would have to be recognised as one of the top managers in the country.

Brilliant Newcastle prove Manchester United are nothing to be scared of

Newcastle thoroughly deserved their 3-0 win over Manchester United last night

Newcastle 3-0 Manchester United

Manchester City may be the current Premier League leaders, but there is still nothing quite like a victory over their city rivals.

Newcastle battered and bullied Manchester United last night and were superior in every department, giving the Toon Army a night to remember and other Premier League teams an eye-opener.

If Alan Pardew's men proved one thing, it is that the side from Old Trafford are not to be feared.

This is not a vintage Sir Alex Ferguson team, with defensive flaws and a lack of creativity in midfield again magnified.

But to dwell on the Red Devils' poorness would be doing a disservice to the simply brilliant Newcastle.

Man United may not be the team they once were, but they still possess quality players and seasoned internationals.

They were made to look ordinary by the positive and aggressive Magpies, who were fantastic from back to front with star performances from the likes of Demba Ba and Cheik Tiote, who will now be sorely missed with a month-long trip to the African Cup of Nations.

It could be worse though. After a performance like this, Champions League clubs are sure to be sniffing around and it can only be hoped Newcastle's board stands firm and refuses to cash in as they did with Andy Carroll last January.

Whatever happens though, the duo of Ba and Tiote will be missing for the next month or so, and what a parting present they gave.

Tiote ensured Man United did not get a grip of the game

Tiote was a warrior in midfield, breaking up anything the visitors threatened to create and often going on rampaging runs up the field.

As magnificent as Tiote was, Ba deserved his man of the match award.

The Senegalese hitman has to be up there with Robin van Persie as the Premier League's best striker this season, with 15 goals in his last 16 appearances.

He took the opening goal magnificently after Tim Krul's long ball was nodded on by Shola Ameobi and Ba did the rest with a calm, magnificent volley which left the recalled Anders Lindegaard with no chance.

Ba hooks in the opener

Ba bullied Man United's central defensive duo of Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones, who didn't know how to deal with the dual threat in the air of Ba and Ameobi, and the terrorising runs of Ba towards them.

Many teams would have sat back on a one goal lead against the champions, but Pardew had set his stall out to go for it with his team selection and his side kept on battering Man United, whose only real chance of the first half fell to an out-of-sorts Wayne Rooney.

At 0-0, the ball was played through to Rooney and it seemed inevitable he would control and finish as he was one-on-one with home 'keeper Tim Krul, but he failed to trap the ball in an instance which summed up his team's evening.

Rooney was a shadow of the player he was early in this season, and was barely involved at St James' Park apart from complaining to the referee whenever any decision went the way of the hosts.

Whistler Howard Webb was in fact favourable towards Man United with his decisions, so Rooney's frustration was probably mere leftovers from the punishment Ferguson handed to him for a Boxing Day night out.

Rooney was forced to miss the Old Trafford defeat to Blackburn on Saturday, and may now be wishing he missed the trip to Tyneside too.

This was not the kind of 'wounded animals' performance we have come to expect from Ferguson's team over the years after a defeat, as they were outplayed and suffered back-to-back defeats to hand City the initiative in the title race.

There are sure to be fresh questions about Rooney's future now, too.

During his contract row last season, he said he feared Man United lacked ambition and may not be able to fight for titles, and those worries are sure to come to the fore again now.

Rooney spent much of his time on the pitch moaning at referee Webb

Rooney doesn't look happy - that much was evident in the warm-up.

He trained mostly on his own, seemingly locked in his own thoughts, and was often at the opposite side of the pitch to his team-mates, juggling the ball and seemingly uninterested in warming up with the group.

In the squad's usual cross-field runs, Rooney sprinted well ahead of his team-mates in a world of his own.

He cut a frustrated figure during the game and suffered the ignominy of being substituted with just over 15 minutes left when his side needed goals.

Ferguson clearly has some work to do to get his key man back on-side and firing again.

Yohan Cabaye doubled Newcastle's lead two minutes into the second half with an unstoppable free-kick which bounced in off the bar.

Cabaye's stunning strike stopped a Man United second half onslaught in its tracks

After the game, even Ferguson was purring at the quality of the Magpies' opening two goals, and Cabaye's fantastic strike did spark the visitors into action.

In their only real spell of pressure, Man United were denied by a superb goal-line block from birthday boy Danny Simpson to stop Rooney scoring, but other than that, they rarely threatened.

Dimitar Berbatov hit the outside of the post with the score goalless and Rooney had earlier had his chance when he miscontrolled the ball, but in truth Newcastle's defence was rarely under any pressure.

That was testament to the calm and assured work of Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, tight full-back play of Davide Santon and Danny Simpson and the industrious displays of Tiote and Cabaye in the centre of midfield.

Rooney and Berbatov were forced to drop deep to find the ball, as were Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck when they came on, while keeper Krul played a key part in two of the hosts' goals.

His long punt forward in the closing stages was bundled into his own net by an indecisive Jones, ensuring Newcastle's fans could enjoy the final few minutes and create the sort of stadium-rocking atmosphere that only they can.

When Newcastle beat Man United, it tends to be special.

Before yesterday, they had gone over 10 years without beating the side from Old Trafford and had only beaten them three times in the Premier League.

Those wins were the famous 5-0 game, a 3-0 rout and a 4-3 blockbuster, and this win can now go alongside them.

Two of their goals may have been route one, but the victory was not all built on a long ball game.

Every Newcastle player deserves credit for the team's triumph

The success came that way, with Ba and Ameobi superior in the air to their counterparts, but the excellent Cabaye set the tone with a superb display in the centre, showing off his great technical ability and starting many attacks to put Newcastle on the front foot.

Cabaye and Tiote as a partnership are simply fantastic and are a match for any other midfield duo in the league.

They made Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in Man United's midfield look ordinary and are exactly the type of players Ferguson needs in his team.

This success for Newcastle wasn't all about two or three individuals though, it was a real team effort.

They all worked tirelessly for each other and believed they would get the result, with not one player in a black and white shirt having a bad game.

Pardew got his tactics spot-on, using the long ball at the right times and to the right effect, and unleashing a high tempo which even the great Man United sides would have struggled to deal with.

There should even have been a penalty for the home side with the score at 0-0, but nobody will be complaining now.

Newcastle embarrassed their illustrious visitors and their performance mocked any doom-mongers who had suggested their early season bubble had burst.

Pardew got his tactics spot-on at St James' Park

Ferguson will be worried by his team's lack of a response after their humbling at home to Blackburn, as his old sides would have come out fighting and determined to show the Premier League they are still the top dogs.

On this evidence, they are most certainly not that anymore, and may only be the third best team in the country, behind City and Tottenham.

They miss the leadership and calming qualities of stricken Nemanja Vidic, but there can be no excuses for this defeat.

Ferdinand was back, Rooney was back, Giggs was back and their calamity 'keeper David de Gea was dropped.

Man United were pretty much at full strength but could not get anywhere near the magnificent Magpies, who are now back on track in their superb season, sitting seventh and just four points off the Champions League places.

Pardew should take credit for his tactics, Ba, Tiote and Cabaye for their fantastic displays and the whole team for their bravery and solidity.

St James' Park was rocking by the end, just like Man United's title hopes after their first away defeat in the league this season.

Those hopes are now hanging by a thread, despite being just three points behind City, because results and performances like this are not those of champions.