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Newcastle United (0) 0 Sheffield United (0) 1 Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd is determined to fight his way through the current wave of unrest that is gripping St James' Park and is in no mood to relinquish his grip on the Premiership club. Toon angry: Newcastle fans express their dissatisfaction According to sources close to a defiant Shepherd, he is ready to tough it out even though police officers on horseback were ultimately required to disperse mutinous members of the Toon Army on Saturday. They had massed outside the famous stadium's main entrance to vent their spleen by calling for the overthrow of Shepherd and his board after Danny Webber nodded in Nick Montgomery's cross, deservedly condemning Newcastle to an ignominious defeat. It left a club competing in the Champions League four years ago preoccupied with avoiding relegation to the Championship. Despite the slump, the position of Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder remains secure, although the board are likely to run out of patience should he prove unable to reverse the club's Premiership decline sooner rather than later. The legendary patience of the supporters — without a major domestic honour to celebrate since 1955 — has already snapped. Roeder was spared their wrath despite overseeing a singularly poor, undisciplined performance, but last night insisted that he and not Shepherd – in Mallorca with his wife Lorelle who was recently taken ill – should shoulder the blame for the current malaise. "I have complete responsibility for the team and the squad and I accept that and would not want it any other way," Roeder said. "I will not hide behind anybody or behind the chairman. The players must accept their responsibility, and their part of the deal is if you play for Newcastle it has to be to a certain level." Former Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer, among others, has expressed sympathy for Roeder, declaring that the manager has his hands tied and that replacing him will not help the players at all. Last season Roeder's predecessor, Graeme Souness, became the object of fans' fury, but the current dissent is reminiscent of Newcastle fans' protests against Lord Westwood in the 1970s and then Gordon McKeag in the late 80s which paved the way for Sir John Hall's revolution. In mitigation, Newcastle were playing their second game in less than 48 hours following the trip to Palermo. But they banked £265,000 from Sky in the process, which explains why the match was not put back a day - and why six fresh faces were in the 1st XI chosen by Roeder. Tactically, his team were dreadful against a side without an away goal all season, and his big-hitters such as Scott Parker and Damien Duff were particularly disappointing, while the amount of long balls hoofed to the diminutive Giuseppe Rossi was astounding. One player who seemed capable of forcing the visitors on to the back foot was James Milner, but he ended up being substituted, much to the consternation of the supporters. Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper later raised questions about his colleagues' attitude. "We're lacking character and mental strength, certainly when we've gone behind," Harper said. "People seem to stop showing for the ball when it's not going well and it's frustrating. Roeder also noted that there were "certain deficiencies in parts of the squad". "If you're not a good character with mental strength, I don't think you should be at this club. It's tin hat time." The taste of victory was bittersweet for Sheffield United winger Keith Gillespie, who remains synonymous with Newcastle's celebrated 3-2 win over Barcelona. "They've had a few problems over the last few years and haven't really recaptured that sparkle that used to exist here," Gillespie said. "When Kevin Keegan was manager it was entertaining football, but they've failed to do that since."

Newcastle must accept times have changed By Alan Hansen Nobody in the Premier League will want to see a club the size of Newcastle United relegated. However, the rules of engagement are crystal-clear and the simple fact is that no club are too big to be relegated and, at the moment, Newcastle are in a sorry state of affairs. Anybody who thinks it simply won't happen to Newcastle only need to look at Leeds and Sunderland to realise that they are going to have to be careful. They have had a horrific start to the season, they are conceding more than they are scoring and only goal difference is keeping them off the foot of the Premiership table. Newcastle are a massive club, they have a terrific stadium and the whole set-up should be geared for the big time. Some of the clubs who have come into the Premiership are struggling to fill their grounds, but you never see empty seats at Newcastle and that's why the Premiership needs them in the top flight. If they are ever to bring success to the club, though, Newcastle need a change of philosophy and that is something that the supporters are going to have to accept. What they have to decide is whether they want to win trophies or if they would rather try and win 5-4 every week. I don't think they want to change. Whether it be Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho, they will tell you that you have to get the foundation right before you do anything else. Some of the managers that Newcastle have had since Kevin Keegan have tried to implement that, but Newcastle fans don't want their team to play like Chelsea. They want a team that says: "If you score four, we'll score five." From Jackie Milburn through to Alan Shearer, they have always wanted a great No 9, but how many great central defensive partnerships can you think of at Newcastle? The last defender of any merit who they had was Jonathan Woodgate – and they sold him. The problem they have now is that not only do they need a No 4, No 5 and No 6, they still need another No 9 because Shearer is no longer there and they have had terrible luck with Michael Owen's injury. Despite what he may be saying, Glenn Roeder is under real pressure as manager. Every manager in the bottom six is under pressure and Glenn is no different, especially when you consider that Newcastle have had six managers in 10 years. That is far too many and it says it all about the situation they are in. As a chairman, Freddy Shepherd is two things. Firstly, he has proved beyond any doubt that he is no-nonsense when it comes to sacking managers, but those managers have also been given a hell of a lot of money to spend by him, so you cannot say that he hasn't backed them in the transfer market. To his credit, he gave Graeme Souness an awful lot of money to buy Owen, and there have been countless others who have been brought in for big transfer fees. Albert Luque and Obafemi Martins were other big-money centre-forwards, but despite all the money that has been spent they haven't signed many good centre-halves. That just sums up Newcastle and the philosophy of the club. What happened under Kevin Keegan was once-in-a-lifetime stuff, though, and if the team who lost a 12-point lead in 1995-96 were playing in this season's Premiership, they wouldn't even finish in the top four because the game has moved on. The issue now for Newcastle is getting out of the mess they are in, and you often find that it tends to get worse before it gets better. When you look at the way they played against Sheffield United on Saturday, you would have to say that they are in big, big trouble. Having played in Palermo in the Uefa Cup on Thursday night, they could have moved the game back to Sunday, but they decided to take the television money, despite the fact that Sheffield United hadn't played for a week. In my opinion, if it was a choice between three points and the TV money, the points are 100 times more important, but that was Newcastle's decision. If I were a betting man, I would still back them to stay up because they will probably just go out and buy another No 9 from somewhere, but if things continue as they are they will face major problems.

Toon cash in on TV encounter - but Roeder counts the cost By COLIN YOUNG Last updated at 20:47pm on 5th November 2006 Reader comments (0) Toon hit rock bottom Middlesbrough reached the final last season, played 15 games to get there - largely, like Newcastle, in front of indifferent home crowds - and won only three times in the Premiership after a Thursday nightshift. So far, Newcastle have won just one in five after a European encounter although this defeat was the most inexcusable. Thursday's impressive victory over the admittedly weakened Palermo appeared to be a turning point in a season which is proving a major struggle for manager Glenn Roeder. But instead of starting to pull away from the bottom three, only a post saved them from falling to the foot of the table. Alan Quinn's shot hit goalkeeper Steve Harper and his upright, denying Sheffield United a second goal to add to Danny Webber's headed effort, the first on their travels this season. Roeder recalled six players who had been rested on Thursday but Damien Duff and Scott Parker, usually two of his most influential players, looked like they had actually put in a shift in Sicily and then walked all the way home. Newcastle had the option to delay this fixture but turned it down to take Sky's cash. Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock offered to move it long before the draw was made for the long trip to the Serie A leaders but Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd expected to win at home to the Yorkshiremen, no matter what the circumstances. Paddy Kenny will not have an easier game in the Premiership. Charles N'Zogbia hit the bar with an ambitious shot but the Sheffield United keeper did not make a save while Harper warmed his hands twice before Webber beat him with a firm header from Nick Montgomery's surprisingly measured cross. "The one bit of class all day," said Warnock. "Not his strength at all." Harper admitted Newcastle are "lacking character and mental strength". "It's tin hat time," said the keeper. "You need mental strength when you're behind at home and the fans are getting frustrated, but it's not happening. If you're not a good character and haven't got it, I don't think you should be at this football club. You look to your big characters to get on the ball, get out there and do something with it." The "We want Shepherd out" chants started 10 minutes from the end but was a reaction to the dross on the field. Roeder shifted uncomfortably in the technical area and withdrew from sight for the final stages but not once was the abuse aimed at him or his players. Sporadic fighting broke out among home fans as, time and again, Harper, a goalkeeper with a dodgy groin, was asked to hoof the ball to Giuseppe Rossi, one of the smallest and most inexperienced strikers in the Premiership. Kenny was not the only one wishing it could be like this every week. Visiting centre halves Phil Jagielka and Claude Davis could not believe their luck. At the other end, Titus Bramble punted the ball even higher than Harper and Craig Moore became embroiled in a tit-for-tat squabble with Rob Hulse which should have been halted by a red card. Hulse may not have come close to scoring but he did annoy the Australian who was completely lost for the winner. Replacing Alan Shearer was always going to be difficult and so far Newcastle have failed. Injuries have not helped, but neither have their signings. Shola Ameobi is about undergo hip surgery and join Michael Owen on this season's permanent sick list. Obafemi Martins is out for another week and has one goal in eight Premiership games after his £10million move from Inter Milan. Roeder has been forced to use Duff as a striker, where he is clearly not comfortable and, strangely, the Irishman is struggling for form, although the constant changing of positions - he was more effective as a left back - cannot be helping. Rossi, meanwhile, scored twice against Portsmouth but the Manchester United youngster has been sent by Sir Alex Ferguson to learn his trade and he is being forced to do it the hard way, such as trying to win headers from aimless high balls. Roeder was unfortunate to inherit Albert Luque, who cost half a million less than Martins. He is likely to earn the full amount of the Sky money before his misery is ended in the January transfer window and, on the evidence of this lacklustre, indifferent contribution, unlikely to spend much of the time playing. In what must have been a painful Match of the Day analysis, Shearer neglected to mention Luque was an option for the Newcastle manager. But it is unlikely it was an oversight. Newcastle's record goalscorer said: "Rossi is finding it tough, Shola needs an operation, Michael Owen won't play this season and Martins is injured so they are asking a young kid to play a very difficult role but Glenn has no choice because there is no one left. The problem is the lack of goals. It's a worrying time." Shearer acknowledged Warnock had "done his homework" and the United boss is confident his side can finish above Newcastle. "I won't tell you why but there are seven or eight teams we can finish above," said Warnock. "I knew we had a difficult start and if we could just be two or three points adrift by the end of November I would be quite happy. Anyone in the bottom half could be involved in it."

As this dark episode in the history of Newcastle United reached its painful denouement, a full moon illuminated the Tyneside sky, but it is the elusive light at the end of the tunnel which Magpies' supporters crave most. An increasing number of fans fervently believe that a brighter future can only be achieved once their club emerge from the foreboding shadow of their larger-than-life chairman, Freddy Shepherd. More than 1,000 of the most vocal confirmed as much long after the dust had settled on this disastrous result and only the presence of mounted police prevented a tense situation turning nasty. It is understood that Shepherd will return from a short break in Spain this week after missing what his manager, Glenn Roeder, correctly described as the worst performance of his nine-month tenure. In the mean time, attention will inevitably focus on the future of Roeder and it is deeply ironic that a trip to Manchester City is the next Premiership test facing a coach desperately clinging to a post he initially shunned. It was immediately following February's listless 3-0 defeat at Eastlands that Graeme Souness, the previous Newcastle manager, was summarily dismissed by Shepherd. If tomorrow night's Carling Cup tie at Watford is seen as a mere distraction, only a win will suffice against City on Saturday. Anything less and heads - or at least one head - will surely roll. For Keith Gillespie, the former Newcastle winger who returned to St James' Park with Sheffield United, the rapid decline in the club's fortunes must appear especially dramatic. "It's a crying shame," he said after Danny Webber's 68th minute goal, Sheffield United's first away from home in the League this season, sentenced Newcastle to a seventh Premiership defeat. "When Kevin Keegan was manager we played entertaining football," Gillespie added, "but they've failed to do that since. I can understand the fans' frustrations because they're down near the bottom of the League." Roeder, to his credit, is refusing to hide at a time when his normally vocal chairman is proving conspicuous by his absence. "That performance has to be a one-off," he said after Sheffield United's fully deserved victory. "It was as bad as anything the fans have seen since I took charge. It is my responsibility to achieve better results." Failure to do so at Manchester City and Roeder may find that responsibility is taken out of his hands. Goal: Webber (68) 0-1. Newcastle United (4-4-2): Harper; Carr, Moore, Bramble, Babayaro; Milner (Luque, 66), Butt (Solano, h-t), Parker, N'Zogbia (Emre, h-t); Rossi, Duff. Substitutes not used: Srnicek (gk), Ramage. Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Kozluk, Jagielka, Davis, Geary; Gillespie, Montgomery, Leigertwood, Quinn (Law, 90); Webber (Kabba, 72; Kazim-Richards, 88), Hulse. Substitutes not used: Bennett (gk), Short. Referee: S Bennett (Kent). Booked: Newcastle Carr, Babayaro; Sheffield United Davis, Hulse. Man of the match: Jagielka. Attendance: 50,188.

Does he think he can take the piss forever? If he stays past this crisis he's going to have to move his fat arse out of the North East, as there's only so much piss taking the fat **** can do until someone sticks the nut on him. Am close to it myself, and am not a violent person. :wullie: Just a fed up one. I am not a violent person either but I gave the couch a shellacking after Sheffield United scored. If the fat one was in my living room at the time he'd have really gotten some. I'm still angry 2 days later - it shows you how much this football club can affect your life - usually negatively.

FREDDY SHEPHERD jetted back into Tyneside last night and vowed to ride out the storm at St James’ Park. The Newcastle chairman has been in Majorca helping wife Lorelle recover from a health scare. He missed hearing a large section of fans shouting for his head after the disastrous 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield United. Newcastle have slumped to joint bottom of the Premiership after taking just five points from their last 10 games. To compound matters, Shepherd is also believed to have had a major bust-up with manager Glenn Roeder over the scheduling of the game. The club chose to accept the £350,000 Sky cash and play on Saturday night despite a tiring UEFA Cup trip to Sicily on Thursday. Roeder said: “I was hoping Palermo was a turning point but the big concern was playing the game so quickly.” The Belgravia Consortium are waiting in the wings to buy out Shepherd. But a source close to him said: “Freddy is no quitter. “Changing the manager or the chairman wouldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. It’s a case of trying to get through until January when the squad can be strengthened.” Roeder insisted: “The chairman isn’t out there playing. He selects managers and I have complete responsibility for the team and the squad. “I accept that and would not want it any other way.” Newcastle’s decision not to postpone the game 24 hours enraged fans. Website nufc.com said: “The false economy of taking a few hundred grand while risking the club’s top-flight status was a risk never worth taking.” Former skipper Alan Shearer said: “Glenn is trying his best but has his hands tied — his only striker is Giuseppe Rossi which is why they’re struggling.”

Last home game against Watford - have to win to stay up. We don't. 0-0 at F-T, Owen kisses the badge (like Alan Smith did) and promises to stay to help us get promoted. He gets peddled for 5m. Sky focuses on grown men crying at SJP. This really could all happen and we need to do something about it while we can. The way I feel at the moment if nothing happens soon I'm going to fly over to Fatty's house and "stone" him to death with frozen pies!

And that's including Titus!

West Ham 1-0 up in injury time. Now firmly rooted in the bottom three. blueupset.gif

Out of the 3 panic buys of Bernard, Sibierski and Rossi our bald Frenchman has done the most. Who could have predicted that? I know I didn't.

He's been here since the end of August so it really does beg the question what the hell has been going on behind the scenes.

The soap opera of Newcastle United lurches from one debacle to another.

I reckon 36 points will be enough this year! I hope you're right!

Exit route? United to turn to Toon ace? Reports claim that Manchester United will turn their attention to Newcastle United skipper Scott Parker if they fail to land Bayern Munich star Owen Hargreaves. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to land a defensive midfielder, and with Bayern keen to retain England ace Hargreaves, other alternatives are being examined. Parker is believed to feature highly on Ferguson's list, and he is performing well in a struggling Magpies side. Although Parker is keen to make a success of his time at St. James's Park, the temptation of playing for a genuine title challenger could prove strong, and a move to Old Trafford could aid the player's cause at international level. Newcastle are unlikely to be prepared to part with one of their best players, but a cash-plus-player deal involving the likes of Wes Brown, John O'Shea or even current Magpies loan star Giuseppe Rossi could tempt them into doing business in January.

I'm not looking forward to it at all. Far too depressed from yesterday's debacle. The consequences of relegation would be absolutely catastrophic and are too scary to think about.

Much of a muchness - like comparing a dog turd to horse manure. Souness was fortunate, if that's the word to have both Owen and Shearer, at least for a short time.

40 may not be enough and 6 points between now and January is a big ask for a team that can't create or score goals. Sorry for the pessimism but I really think we're in the mire this time.

I noticed how it hasn't been mentioned anywhere. Do people think supporters just randomly started booing ffs? Bottled a challenge, and just like any other player, if you do that the supporters get on your back, he turns around tells them to **** off, waves his arms around, sarcastically aplauds. Not an apology in sight ffs, disgusting actions from a so called captain. It's sad that our captain should have to resort to this against his own fans. I was there as a kid many years ago when Billy Whitehurst flicked the "V's" after being subbed and that was (thankfully) the last we saw of him. No chance this happening for Parker though.

That would certainly do me! To be honest I'd probably take 17th if it was offered the way things are.

I'd be over the moon with either Daum or Sven but would they come to this mess?

Given, Dyer (gulp) and Martins should be back. Will Roeder be still in charge? We'll find out tomorrow one way or the other.

I hope there will be at least 2 goals on Sunday from Arsenal because if they win by 2 goals we go above West Sham. As we are so obviously incapable of getting results ourselves we'll have to rely on the better teams winning against our rivals at the bottom.

Even if he is abroad this news will have reached the "Lord of the pies" by now.

Don't blame them, I feel like shouting at my computer.

Yet another relegation 6 pointer against Citeh followed by a mauling against Arsenal. Count in Watford on Tuesday and three successive away trips - it's not looking good at all.