March 2010 Archives
Don't talk to Newcastle United fans about endurance.
Down the years they've been there, done it and got the soaking wet t-shirts!
Last night against Nottingham Forest was another example of their incredible dedication.
Given the life and crimes of Joseph Anthony Barton it was no surprise that the Toon midfielder was able to take a few cat calls and cheap shots that were intermittently spewed out by a handful of Hartlepool fans during his comeback from a foot injury.
In summary Barton's return from injury was one to forget for the ex-Man City man and one that for him was all about fitness with 75 minutes under his belt.
Barton donned the skipper's armband for a young United side that are currently experiencing a bad run of form.
Joey Barton can't do right for doing wrong sometimes but the word on street is that the Scouse midfielder will opt not to talk to the media circus which will descend on Hartlepool when he makes his latest comeback from injury.
Newcastle's season is at a delicate stage and the last thing that anybody needs is something or somebody upsetting the apple cart.
And while the temptation for journalists is to get some good copy from Barton, whether it would do any good as far as NUFC is concerned is a totally different matter.
Like him or hate him, you can't ignore Joey Barton.
Well that's the Tyne-Tees ding dong over for what could be at least another season and Newcastle United were probably much, much happier with the point than Middlesbrough by the end.
At times United were poor at the Riverside but they showed they have the ability to dig in and scrape a result when it matters most and more importanly they didn't cave in.
Even a neutral could have sensed that the game meant much more to Boro and in the end it must have felt like a defeat for Gordon Strachan's side.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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