Owen Coyle spat:

“There’s no doubt he (Daniel Sturridge) is a natural goalscorer but he’s more than that, I think he’s a natural footballer. Obviously he can finish, left foot, right foot, he can score headed goals as well. He’s got pace to burn, he's a clever footballer as well and the great thing I love about him is; he’s exciting. He gets the ball and as a supporter, because I love football and want to be entertained, and when he gets the ball anybody in the stadium thinks something exciting might happen and that’s the type of players we want in the Premier League.

"(Jack) Wilshere has taken his game to another level now as we know and I’ve no doubts Daniel can, that’s why I brought him to the football club because I believed he was that special. I said to him in there, ‘don’t be happy just to score one a game, get your goal and be hungry enough to get the second one’.

“You can see he’s playing with a smile on his face and there’s no shame in not being in the Chelsea starting XI or the Arsenal starting XI but as I said before, if these clubs have that calibre of player and they need the platform in the Premier League and I think they’re good enough to get in my team then I’ll try and bring them in because doing that for me is a win-win-win situation.

“Daniel improves as a player, Chelsea get a far better player back and Bolton Wanderers get a quality player that can help us improve and as a manager that’s my job from year to year to try and improve the football club.

“We had the opportunities to win the game but I felt we could’ve created more. Whilst also accepting Newcastle are also dangerous because of the quality of attacking flair that they have. So, if you offered us a point before the game I think we’d have seen that as a very good point and I don’t see why at the end of the game that changes, except that we could have won the game.”

It's just one defeat in nine league games for Newcastle now after this Saturday stalemate with the Trotters - although Alan Pardew's side were forced to settle for a point following Ryan Taylor's dismissal. 

The Wigan old boy was starting his first league game of the season, having hastily stepped into a right-sided midfield role when Joey Barton pulled up in the warm-up. That also saw Shane Ferguson added to the bench.

Newcastle were quickly into their stride and had come close to scoring through strike duo Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands before Kevin Nolan found the net against his former employers on 13 minutes. Further goals looked likely, with Leon Best upended in the area only to have been adjudged offside - the first of a number of decisions that angered home fans - and both Best and Lovenkrands failing to convert a sweeping cross from Jose Enrique that caused panic in Bolton's backline.

Almost inevitably United would pay the price for that profligacy seven minutes before the interval - as further needless dithering on the ball was finally exploited by Owen Coyle's side. Level at half time, the home side were beginning to build up a head of steam after the break, when Ryan Taylor mis-controlled a pass in the centre circle and wiped out Elmander with a futile and illegal two-footed bid to regain control.

Foy's red card initially seemed harsh, but TV replays confirmed Taylor's indiscretion was correctly punished and as they had been down at the Reebok, Newcastle were left a man short. That's now three Magpies to have received punishment for knocking lumps out of the Swedish striker this season; both Coloccini and Williamson penalised in the away game - the latter retrospectively - does he insult their mothers or what?

Initially opting to defend in depth, United's rearguard action invited Bolton to attack and with Lovenkrands tiring and Gutierrez ineffective, both were replaced, Steven Taylor returning after a seven week absence and Nile Ranger offering a willing outlet up front. The refashioned 3-4-2 formation offered Bolton more space in the final third of the field but crucially saw Newcastle regain a foothold in midfield - something that became crucial as possession was surrendered cheaply on several occasions and the visitors counter-attacked.

Bolton's best chance of a second saw Martin Petrov take a knockdown from the perpetually whinging Kevin Davies and drive towards goal, only for Kevin Nolan's thigh to divert the ball over the crossbar. That moment of fortune was then echoed at the other end, as Best worked an opening down the right and drilled over a firm cross that Paul Robinson almost chested into his own goal - 'keeper Jaaskelainen just able to reach it.

And the prospect of an improbable victory was raised in the dying minutes, as Shefki Kuqi appeared for his home debut and created some confusion in the visiting ranks alongside the nimble and unpredictable Ranger.
The latter came agonisingly close to what would have been his maiden top-flight strike, but was marginally offside when more superb work from Jose Enrique led to his somehow sweeping over a tempting cross. 

News of Everton's win over the mackems meant that we'd missed the opportunity to overhaul our local rivals, but a point was a decent enough return for some endeavour and effort against tricky opponents who had inflicted our heaviest defeat of the season last time out. Moving on to 36 points, we remained ninth at the end of the day with ten games to play, five at home, five away. 

And despite drawing our third consecutive home game, those who made the effort to attend were rewarded with another engrossing, entertaining afternoon. This current side may not be the most talented or stylish we've fielded but there's nothing seemingly wrong with the work ethic, spirit or motivation. Leon Best was probably the pick of them, again to the fore with another industrious display and now a £10m player - if one believes press valuations of the "Southern Shola" aka Carlton Cole - like Best, currently on 5 league goals. 

Some familiar problems were still evident though - a circumspect afternoon from Jonas, mixed blessings from Tiote and Enrique caused by ball-hogging (great when it comes off, suicidal when it doesn't) and the ongoing rabbit in the headlines panic when Mike Williamson gets the ball at his feet. It's fair to say also that Joey Barton was missed. Of Ryan Taylor we won't speak about - and that's got nowt to do with his dismissal. 

Danny Simpson meanwhile seemed reluctant to close down his opponent - a frequent moan that leaves us bemused at recent press lines about possible England selection. Contributing blogs to the club website and having an active twitter account may have contributed to that, rather than on-pitch attributes though. 

Something to build on then? God knows - watching them and understanding them are two different things. 
Extended contracts for players and staff alike have provoked much debate in recent days, although the refrain from every player about needing to reinvest remains a constant one. 

Only time will tell whether they get their wish or this fragile peace is disturbed further in the coming months by more upheavals - but you wouldn't bet against it, for all the recent season ticket-led charm offensive. As a litmus test of continued cynicism, the absence of Barton when the teams appeared instantly brought forth "bust up" theories, before confirmation of his pre-match fitness problems arrived. That's what it does to you.

PS: This was Alan Pardew's 12th league game in charge of United, of which we've won four. That's the same number as Chris Hughton achieved in his last 12....and Graeme Souness managed in his first dozen. It remains the earliest of early days, but like Hughton, Pardew has enhanced his reputation since heading North.

Biffa