39mins Albion 'keeper Scott Carson launched the ball downfield for a quick counter and Koren took possession down the left flank before being clipped by Duff level with the United penalty area.

Greening swung over a right-footed inswinging free kick toward Olsson, who jumped in front of the advancing Harper. The United 'keeper made contact with the ball but succeeded in pushing it into the path of Moore on the edge of the six yard box. 

His instant shot cannoned off the back of Olsson and dropped for Martis to steer home from close range, with Ameobi's attempted clearing lunge seeing him make contact with Harper's face rather than the ball.  0-1

Half time: Baggies 1 Toon 0

55mins Ryan Taylor's corner kick was headed away unchallenged by Chris Wood then up in the air by Smith before Robert Koren cleared his lines more effectively. Enrique took two touches to control the ball just over halfway, before making a short pass to the adjacent Smith.

He in turn pushed it forward to the unmarked Ameobi, who had scope to go forward and passing options ahead and to either side of him. He chose Nolan ahead of him on the edge of the box, who was able to half-turn and push the ball across the edge of the box to where Damien Duff was galloping in. 

The Irishman steadied himself before netting with a low right-footer from eight yards out, in front of the Magpies contingent. A fine team goal. 1-1

It may not have been the much-craved new beginning for Newcastle United, but those fans present departed in a rather better frame of mind than they had from nearby Villa Park 76 days previously. 

And amongst the team there looked to be a discernible lifting of spirits - even if there had been a seemingly inevitable behind the scenes bust-up in the run-up to this season opener (Barton reputedly walking off the training field after a difference of opinion with our Argentinean pair).   

Our return to the second tier after a sixteen year absence felt like a Premiership game in everything but name, with Duff reprising the goal he scored here earlier in 2009 and the BBC desperately trying to build up the occasion for their debut Match of the Day Championship broadcast. 

However, it was a player who never got a Premier League look in that probably did most to earn a point with four or five fantastic stops. Tim Krul had waited since his 2006 debut for a second crack at the first team, keeping his gloves warm at Carlisle and Falkirk in the interim - but his appearance at half time to warm up confirmed that Steve Harper wouldn't be returning. 

United's first choice custodian had taken a kick in the head as West Brom went ahead, Shola Ameobi's inadvertant whack leaving him with concussion. It's debatable whether the man from Easington would have stopped everything that his Dutch understudy did - leading to claims that Shola should receive the man of the match award for his part in our enforced lineup change...

With fellow reserve 'keeper Fraser Forster debuting on loan for Bristol Rovers down the M5, Krul grasped this opportunity with both hands - and also his legs and various other parts of his body - to keep Albion out. 

While it was heartening to see Krul excel after patiently waiting for his go, his display though may potentially alert other clubs to what we already knew - he's a confident and competent 'keeper.

The worry is that any players who excel in our opening games will move to the head of the SJP exit queue, Sunday newspapers instantly seeing goalscorer Duff linked with a hasty Premiership return.

Conversely though, the current stalemate means that some other players have had a new lease of life at the club. Most of those players Alan Shearer pinpointed to build a side round may have gone, but for others who were on his discarded list, there's at least a stay of execution - notably Barton. 

While this was hardly a classic performance against a side who didn't hit the ground running, there were at least a clutch of committed performances to hang on to - had we exhibited this level of effort on our last visit to nearby Villa, then we might not have ended up in this league....

Starting brightly, Newcastle conceded slightly against the run of play - the goal coming just at the time when they were well on top possession-wise. However a lack of cutting edge was already apparent from the strike duo, while the pedestrian midfield threatened little. Zero meaningful output and amateur dramatics from Jonas also failed to impress, although one elbow from Zuiverloon that felled him could have seen the Baggie man depart.

Whether the former Mallorca man can adjust to the rigours of this league and the refereeing levels is in severe doubt - and this game was officiated by a top-flight whistler. Quite what he'll make of Glanford Park on a Tuesday night with Andy Penn or some other greenhorn remains to be seen.

And save for his astute layoff for the goal, Kevin Nolan looked to be struggling with the pace of the game - although he did at least get forward to head over Joey Barton's free kick near the end.

Aside from that chance and Duff's conversion though, it was difficult to see where a goal would come from, with neither Ameobi or Carroll able to pose any forward threat and the supply of crosses also far from satisfactory - Duff may have scored, but would surely have been more productive down his natural left wing role.

The opportunity for debutant Nile Ranger is there, but there's a danger that too much expectation is heaped on the striker who only turned 18 at the end of last season. 

Elsewhere on the bench, Xisco and LuaLua remained unused - with the former having briefly found his shooting boots at the back end of last season in the reserves. Kazenga meanwhile should not be confused with a goalscorer, managing just four from 40-odd second string outings - all but one against inferior sides in cup games.

With megabucks trio Owen, Martins and Viduka all taking their leave in the summer, there's certainly a vacancy for someone who knows where the goal is - but that's a situation we share with most teams in this league. 

In the twelve months since we opened up last season with an identical result at Old Trafford it's almost impossible to catalogue the mishaps and misery that have befallen us - let alone make sense of it all. Starting and ending the season with the same manager would be nice, but yet again that's not going to happen this time round.

In a summer chock-full of bewilderment, lies and half-truths though, the relief on and off the field of getting back to some sort of reality was evident to all - with unwavering support from the away section rightly acknowledged by the players. Our yellow kit may be an atrocity, but at least there was some proof here today that those selected were playing for the badge that's displayed on it. 

While the man at the top remains though, that's of only limited value. Mike Ashley is currently on holiday in Hawaii. We meanwhile continue to be part of the footballing equivalent of Pearl Harbour.

Biffa

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