Fortress-like home record? check
Team and crowd in accord? check
Goalscoring number 9? check
Local contingent in team? check
Twisty faces in away dugout? check
Hyped-up opponents humbled? check

Here's a question that is rarely if ever asked in connection with NUFC, where did it all go right?

A team continually weakened by injury and self-inflicted blows has somehow continued to function this season and actually prosper, conjuring results and performances out of thin air regardless of whatever misfortune and complication comes their way. A Miracle on Barrack Road.

Today was a typical example: 

League leaders in town and unbeaten all season but lose to a side who finish with ten men once again. Second choice keeper joins first choice keeper on the sidelines, third choice keeper - who is surplus to requirements - comes on and excels. Ivorian midfielder plays poorly in the wake of tabloid headlines about alleged drink driving but his pals cover, captain returns from injury to give man of the match display but is carrying an injury, another centre half comes on to shore up the defence after a court date as a witness, which in turn followed a game when he was taken off due to his poor showing. Oh aye, and striker again snaps up what chances come his way to further our remarkable shots/goal ratio. And breathe. 

There has been a back story to virtually every victory in the last 12 months, which can be trotted out to take some of the gloss off our achievements. Be it finally winning at Old Trafford as the Moyes misadventure / mutiny became ever more obvious or beating Spurs and Liverpool this time round when they were in rotten runs of form - that old line about doing well by playing teams at the right time seemed tailor made for the black and whites.

Not this one though. A genuine 100%, gold-plated, jewel-encrusted, uncontroversial victory. No dodgy refereeing decisions in our favour, no disputed penalty calls or handballs. Nothing, nowt.

The visitors started brightly and had United on the back foot with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian causing the home defence all sorts of problems. However Jose Mourinho's side were restricted to shots from the edge of the box, Willian going close with efforts that narrowly went wide of either side of the Gallowgate goal but failing to trouble Rob Elliot.

At the other end, Daryl Janmaat crossed menacingly from the right in the 15th minute but Thibaut Courtois came off his line to gather. United's best chance of the half on 39 minutes saw Sammy Ameobi pick out Ayoze Perez and he set Jack Colback away in the box. However Courtois was quick to smother his shot and the rebound glanced off the midfielder to safety.

Oscar then had a spectacular effort on the stroke of half-time that shaved Elliot's upright as an overhead kick almost broke the deadlock. The Newcastle goalkeeper immediately held his thigh after clearing and it soon became clear that his game was over when Alnwick took to the field during half time, stripped for action and being warmed up by goalkeeping coach, Andy Woodman.

Alnwick was soon in the thick of the action, punching confidently after Cesc Fabregas delivered a free-kick into the box. The game-changing substitution came in the 53rd minute when Remy Cabella made way for Cisse and the striker netted less than five minutes later.

Mourinho threw on Andre Schurrle for Oscar and Willian headed over when well placed. Two more substitutions followed for the visitors but the Magpies' defence and Alnwick were holding firm and Cisse came close to doubling the lead.

Hazard went even closer when he hit the post from 16 yards after Branislav Ivanovic had picked him out. Within two minutes the course of the game - and perhaps Chelsea's season - changed, when Cisse got his second after an upfield charge by Sissoko punctured the visiting defence.

Fabregas and Diego Costa were both booked as Chelsea lost their heads but Taylor also lost his and put in a wild challenge that saw him receive a second yellow and leave his team a man short for the remaining nine minutes of normal time plus stoppages.

United hastily swapped their intended third substitution and stood Yoan Gouffran down for Mike Williamson, but Chelsea immediately took advantage and Drogba nodded the free-kick past Alnwick to give his side the chance to save their unbeaten run.

What followed was absolute agony as six minutes of normal time was doubled by referee Martin Atkinson with added time - despite the absence of any trainers on the field (a similar pattern of events in the first half resulted in 60 seconds of additional time).

Alnwick tipped over well from Costa and made some more confident claims and punches and his team mates were throwing everything in the way of shots and crosses. Drogba headed wide and United broke forward and instead of trying for a third, the ball was taken to the corner flag and Atkinson thankfully blew for full-time to signal the home celebrations.

Unbelievable, astonishing but well deserved given the circumstances, as United grew into the game and correctly altered their line-up and style to be in a position to profit when the inevitable chances came their way.

There's a mathematical element to this now: pair Coloccini and Taylor, keep Gouffran away from the action and ensure Colback and Sissoko are in situ. The return of Colo seemed to just tip the scales in our direction, while Moussa's enforced absence in midweek may have been timely ahead of a frantic fixture-filled month to come.

The steady improvement of Janmaat and Colback also counts as a major plus, while Perez continues to impress despite the physical challenge he again faced here and Ameobi found something in the tank after looking absolutely shattered at Turf Moor. Cabella's withdrawal was also a brave move and evidence of increased positive thinking from Pardew in trying to dictate games - not so long ago he'd have gone like for like and taken off Perez, or just unthinkingly chucked on Gouffran.

As to whether the manager is now back in credit with the punters as he notches up a fourth year in post, a fifth successive home win in two weeks' time over the old enemy would see his stock rise still further - not a bad return for a man who was a front runner in the bookies sack race until recently, but has vitally retained and enhanced his standing among our current crop of players.

That really does look to be all that counts round these parts at present. Best to just enjoy these games, these victories, for what they are - until reality returns and fortune stops smiling on us.

Biffa