If proof were needed that the influence of drink upon the occupants of the corporate section at Gallowgate is a dangerous thing, then the awarding of the man of the match today to Kieron Dyer is a prime example.

While no stranger to the odd buckshee shandy myself, I can at least claim I've never been that hammered that I couldn't spot a good performance through half-closed bloodshot eyes.

By falling for the quick-footed charms of England's number one substitute, the freeloaders missed a great opportunity to pay public tribute to the unsung hero of Newcastle's season so far, Aaron Hughes.

Happily uncle Bobby isn't as myopic as some of the fans, and has acted to secure the young Cookstown sizzler** on an extended contract.

Since being handed his first senior start at a damp and virtually deserted Nou Camp by Kenny, Hughes has enjoyed runs in line-ups picked by both the miserable Jock and his Dutch successor, taming several big-name players en route.

However, the arrival of Robson seems to have been the catalyst for a raising of his all-round game, once he'd proved to an initially sceptical new boss that he deserved his place and that a mooted loan deal for Colin Hendry was unnecessary.

The instant response of a good performance in the 8-0 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday and his first senior goal set him up for a good season thereafter, and a further important goal at Goodison Park and noteworthy handling of the Roma striker Totti went hand in hand with a cementing of his place in the Northern Ireland team under new boss Sammy McIlroy.

This season he began as a full back at Old Trafford but thereafter has linked up in the centre of defence with Goma, and has publicly stated that this is his best position, something i'd certainly agree with.

Against Chelsea, he faced the perennially-dangerous Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who found the way to the goals at St.James' without any bother in his Leeds days, and by and large kept him at bay. His partner Goma also seemed to show some cohesion and understanding, and if anyone made the rearguard look lopsided and vulnerable, it was Barton's prancing on the flanks.

Not much else to say about the game, although I'm sure Griffin was a bit miffed by having to make way for Barton again after the former had done nothing wrong while the latter was barred from playing.

Cordone and Shearer are something less than ideal as a front pairing, as the Argie tends to play too far away from uncle Al - the imminent return of Carl Cort is well-timed if he makes it for the Dell. Nobby never rose to the heights of his Spurs flyer, but it was that sort of a game really, plenty of effort but no classic. 

Still, an all-too-rare clean sheet against this lot is not to be sniffed at; the first since September 1995. Unspectacular but steady progress.  

Postscript:

Obviously not everyone thought that Newcastle defended reasonably well, especially loveable old Ken Bates, who pushed Vialli on to his sword a couple of days later and thus made a tidy profit for bookmakers all over the country who'd taken bets on John Gregory being the first Premiership Manager to go up the road this season.

After the shenanigans on Tyneside in two of the last three seasons, it's quite nice to be able to sit back and watch other people wash their dirty linen in public, but I for one am disappointed by the lack of social misfits hanging around Stamford Bridge for the TV cameras to capture in all their intelligence-free finery. Perhaps that's something unique to Newcastle that brings these loons out whenever something cracks off at United.

In deference to the blazer-wearing swillers who are the lifeblood of our club, I have to admit that more than one person sitting in my section thought that Carl Cort came on for United in the second half.....and we ain't in the top tiers of the stand. Proof that whether it's Pimms or pints, the effect is the same.....

**Cookstown sizzlers were Irish sausages advertised many years ago by a young George Best with a slogan of something like "get a cookstown sizzler inside you" - I'm sure he'd much rather have had a bottle of Buckfast...