Toon delighted to beat a team slightly worse than them

Newcastle 3/ Middlesbrough 1

“A tactical masterstroke”. That’s what The Sun are calling Alan Shearer’s decision to bring on Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands, a move that finally gifted the New Messiah his first managerial win. But if it was such a “masterstroke” to bring on Martins, why wasn’t he in the starting lineup instead of the continually ineffectual Michael Owen? The mind truly boggles.

Anyway, it was an exciting tie at St James’ Park last night, which allowed Newcastle to climb out of the relegation zone. If Hull continue their woeful decline, it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of Mr Shearer’s tactical masterstrokes on Match of the Day next season.

Middlesbrough fans, meanwhile, can look forward to some glamorous away days at Selhurst Park and Bloomfield Road…