Our visits to Pride Park are usually notable for something. 

Last year a seven-goal extravaganza came from nowhere, a Batty sending off the year before and that a rare Jon Dahl Tomasson goal made us the first team to win at Derby's new home. Surprising then that this was one of United's most unremarkable performances under Bobby Robson.

Opinion seems to differ over how desperate the home side were for their precious Premiership point. Personally, I couldn't see Bradford and Wimbledon both winning their last two games but I suppose Jim Smith didn't fancy going to Stamford Bridge needing something for safety. Fair enough, then the home side wanted to pack midfield and we seemed fairly keen to join them. However, to blame this less than enthralling encounter on Derby's desperation for a vital point is missing the....point.

Derby actually started the contest looking fairly menacing. One of their youngsters, Adam Murray hit a fierce shot that Given saved well - twice - after it ballooned up and almost span into the net. Minutes later a Kinkladze run went unchecked despite three or four of our "defenders" giving it admiring glances. A chip beat Given but it hit the post then hit Shay's arm and went out for a corner before Pistone thumped it behind the goal. A few minutes later Pistone was withdrawn. A hobble toward the touchline let everyone know he was injured but the cynics amongst us wonder if the move was tactical. Either way, Domi came on and had a stinker.

Temuri Ketsbaia then inadvertently put a lid on the match by crocking the dangerous Kinkladze.. With my unbiased, post-match, clear-thinking head firmly on, I'm still convinced he won the header fair and square. The fact that Kinkladze made a George Reilly-esque attempt to get off the ground ultimately scuttled the Georgian and he never really recovered. 

Robert Lee's challenge a few minutes later finished the job off but again it was hardly a challenge from the Smith/Hunter/Bremner school of hard knocks. A little play-acting seemed to be afoot and Lee's booking seemed harsh. Having said that he did well to subsequently stay on the pitch. A mistimed lunge seconds later and some verbals before half-time might have had a Poll, Rennie, All-cock or Reed brandishing red with gusto.

From then on it was a game restricted to mainly long range efforts. Kieron Dyer and Alan Shearer made horizontal runs across their backline waiting for a killer ball but it never happened. Mind, both Dyer and Shearer did their best to give themselves a free summer with displays that could generously be described as frustrating. Our only chance came when Speed was played through the middle but his chest down meant he had to hit with his right foot. Poom saved with little fuss.

After the break we were treated to absolutely nothing. Barton and Lee had shots from distance that weren't a million miles away but apart from that Derby looked more likely (just) to score. Malcolm Christie spent the afternoon on his backside taking dive after dive. How he avoided a card is beyond me, the ref waving play on and even lecturing the little cheat. 

Worse was the niggly Sturridge. With his back to the ref he often used defenders to shield sneaky little kicks and handballs. Memorable was the vicious flick with the boot on Given's knee-cap and the blatant fist of the ball when he set up the chance of the half for Burton. Luckily Shay saved well.

After that it was party time for the locals. The inevitable Premiership survival was deemed to be worth celebrating wildly. Strange really, our mid-table mediocrity was well hidden under Bobby's bushel and given Derby's recent flirtations with a European place this season has been a shocker for them. Mischievous attempts by the travelling contingent to whip-up a "Smith Out" chant were ignored by the home following.

So we ended up with two teams looking desperately to re-invent themselves. Derby - relegation possibilities or top-half regulars? Us - possible title challengers or mid-table strugglers? Bobby has done a fantastic job this year but at the end of the day we look likely to finish 13th for the third year running. Is this our destiny? It was ultimately enough to get Dalglish and Gullit the boot. 

In snooker terms Bobby was able to come in and play a shot-to-nothing with crowd expectations finally lowered at SJP. Our dreadlocked friend had ensured surviving relegation could be viewed as an achievement. It'll be an interesting summer with some surprising departures possible. Far be it for us to crank up the rumour mill but we have sealed our predictions in an envelope to be opened some time in August....

And finally a word about the respective followings on Saturday. A pleasing effort from the striped black and whites but this "you're supposed to sing at home", "can you hear the ?????? sing" thing is getting out of hand. Derby had no right whatsoever to sing the latter at us as we'd shamed them for 75 minutes before they eventually stirred into action. But can we really sing the former with any conviction or justification given that we regularly play in front of 33,000 mutes on Tyneside? 

The hypocrisy was too much for me. More interesting was the home admission that they "shag sheep and they're proud of it". Maybe this is taking stealing someone else's thunder a touch too far. Highlight was the "Warren for England" and "England's No.2" barked at our centre-parted blond wingback. It was less than a season ago that his name was greeted with howls of derision....