TOON OWNER SHOWS HIS TRUE COLOURS IN TYNE-TEES DERBY
I wonder what Mike Ashley made of it all?
The man who doesn't like the public eye, was in his seat at the Riverside wearing a black and white shirt with Smith on the back.
Would you credit it?
Just like the Toon's tycoon had taken the world of football surprise by buying a share in the club and then eventually taking over, the billionaire did it again by finally making his United debut of sorts at the third time of asking.
Reports that Newcastle are interesting Chinese and Icelandic takeover groups had to be put on the backburner as Ashley voted with his feet and gave the Geordie public a taste of what they wanted to see.
And that was the Ashley punching the air after both Toon goals, goals that should have won the bragging rights in the North East derby.
But the question is, was this a PR stunt to silence doubters that feel he is here to sell the club and make a profit?
Or is Ashley here for the long run?
We'll have to wait and see but as far as the match was concerned Newcastle players left the Riverside dejected.
Some spoke of their disappointment, some marched straight back on to the bus.
Mido emerged from the dressing room visibly upset after enduring a grilling from the Toon Army on a day when it was supposed to be Mark Viduka getting the stick.
And after Viduka had watched Charles N'Zogbia go nuts after scoring a wonderful curled effort to silence the Boro fans, he must have thought he was in for a winning return.
Not so, enter Mido for 1-1 and an instant response to the Toon fans who had hurled abuse at him.
But perhaps the script had something written in the smog for good old Dukes, who kept his word that he would not celebrate if he opened his Newcastle account at Boro.
It looked like it was going to be the winner but it didn't turn out that way.
Not many would have predicted a Brazilian setting up an Argie for the equaliser in the Tees-Tyne derby but that's exactly what happened.
And for the Newcastle supporters a cruel twist as Julio Arca - once stung off a jellyfish in his days as a Mackem - netted to make it 2-2.
OK, Newcastle should probably have held on to their two leads but Ashley would have taken a point before the game after making the decision to become a Geordie officially and don the black and white top.
It means Newcastle are still unbeaten, and they found their touch in front of goal again.
However, with United going through THREE right backs today, it's obvious the squad still needs strengthening.
And it will be interesting to see which player Ashley has on the back of his top for his next away game.
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