Despite fielding a multi million pound side, United's reserves left the West Midlands goalless in a largely uninspiring encounter at the Hawthorns.

Carl Cort put in some nifty footwork and seems to be on the mend, at least when comparing his performance to some non-displays this season in the stiffs. 

Clarence Acuņa battled in midfield, but got little help from the anonymous Gavilan and Bassedas. As usual McClen put in ninety minutes of effort but didn't really accomplish a great deal, losing possession often, in common with many of his colleagues.

A fourth successive clean sheet for the home side never seriously looked in doubt, and in the opening seconds Taylor acrobatically cleared a goalbound lob from Hughes after the born-again baggie had got past Harper straight from the kickoff.

The Newcastle keeper then won a point for his side with a great instinctive save deep in the second half, diving to his right to palm a point-blank volley from Hughes round the post.

For the Magpies, Michael Chopra missed a half-chance in the last five minutes when he fluffed a header despite being unchallenged. Earlier Cort had knocked a loose ball vaguely in the direction of the goal after the Albion keeper went walkabout - however it lacked the power to reach it's destination and was deflected away by the knee of a defender. 

So, not a classic but at least a point for United and a game of slightly better quality than the sheer drudgery of the recent visit to the mackems.

Of course events on wearside overshadowed proceedings, with the game barely underway before a deluge of phone calls and text messages engulfed the NUFC.com mobile phone.

Post-match found a select band of travellers toasting the demise of Peytar in the adjacent Hawthorns Pub - never mind where were you when that Beatle got shot, we'll always remember our location the night the monkey got the bullet... 

Biffa 

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