(While we're on the subject of athletics is it just us, or is Flo a stretched version of Steve Cram?)

Pre-match, opinion among those on the way seemed split between those fatalists who saw one last hurrah from the good ship Murray before it sank beneath the waves, having fatally holed us below the waterline (more rotten analogies now, the end of the season cannot come quick enough...) 

By contrast the opposite stance was being taken by many, convinced that there was nothing that McCarthy's beaten generation could do to stop us. Local bookies were gratefully taking money for substantial away wins, with 3-0 being a popular choice.

And those punters should have been collecting their winnings, or at least rueing the late mackem "goal" that screwed up their predictions, were it not for our profligacy in front of Sorensen's nets.

Disgracefully ignored by the Premiership, let it not be forgotten that we did have the ball in the net courtesy of Alan Shearer in the opening stages, before the world takes false memories away from the game that the home side were somehow "robbed."

Given was called into action on a couple of occasions as the mackems tried to drive forward, principally through Bellion and the irritating Thornton. However our custodian was equal to the task, once again reminding the mackems of their folly in not stumping up the meagre amount that it would have taken to turn his 1996 loan into a permanent deal.

At the other end Bellamy and Solano both got into dangerous positions without testing Sorensen, before the former jinked into the box and was dragged down - a decision that even the perenially sinned-against red and whites couldn't moan too much about.

Nobby knocked it in and the mackems then seemed to descend into panic mode. In the remaining seconds of the first half Bellamy was in for a second, but couldn't steer his short wide of the 'keeper. Then Solano again blasted over - his second good chance of the half, not counting the spot kick.

Not a bad half time return for a team by then lacking Robert, Speed, Shearer, O'Brien and featuring a patched-up Woodgate and Jenas. However, having been ahead at the break against both Fulham and Villa, the question remained whether we'd come to regret not pressing home our advantage when the opposition were reeling on the ropes.

Worth saying a few words at this point about Stevie Caldwell, simply because we may not have the chance to do so for much longer. A lad who has never come up short in effort when given a first team chance, he looks like he's on the verge of reluctantly walking away from the club after being offered an inferior contract to his colleagues.

But you wouldn't know any of that from the way he came in for the battered O'Brien and lined up alongside Woodgate in determined manner - undoubtedly intent on getting the better of his international colleague Kyle and sending Berti Vogts a wee reminder.

The Englishman and the Scotsman worked well together and kept any ricks to a minimum - Woodgate no doubt aware of the need for self-preservation to get him to the end of the game, in the absence of any more defensive cover from the bench.

That Bramble's recent topsy-turvy form and unexplained absence weren't an issue is credit to Caldwell, although mention of Titus opens up another discussion entirely - the suspicion is that he's been taken out of firing line as his confidence is shot. Sorry, but I expect a wee bit more for the money than we've seen, injuries or no injuries.

With Hughes now increasingly seen as a full back, younger brother Gary playing midfield on loan at Coventry, Dabizas packing his bags and Steven Taylor still with a lot to learn it seems illogical that Caldwell senior will be allowed to walk.

A lad who wants play for the club, doesn't want a fortune to do so and comes in from the cold to visibly demonstrate his commitment in games like this would be difficult (and expensive) to replace, with no guarantee that any incomers would settle at the club. 

Still only 22, the free transfer signing has seen off a succession of imported ponces and bottlers, from Goma through Dumas and of course the Spaniard whose name must never be mentioned. Worth keeping surely.

Right, ending that broadcast on behalf of the Scottish Internationalists, back to the game:

A first half booking and an ineffectual display from Viana prompted questions about his ability to remain on the field for much of the second half, and Bobby eventually replaced him when it became clear that the youngster was unable or unwilling to get involved without risking dismissal. At one stage he pushed over a home player and it looked for a second that he was off.

Bernard came in on the left with 18 minutes remaining and we instantly looked more balanced and solid, the pace of Shola and Dyer creating a number of chances in the remaining minutes to seal the win.

That second goal never came though and although some of the home fans had by now wandered off in despair, the odd bit of pressure and occasional set piece were conjured up by the mackems to keep the tension levels high.

That they could create no more than the goal that never was says as much about their hopelessness as our quality. We weren't great but we were a country mile ahead of their laboured efforts - less twisted people than us would almost feel sorry for them.

This was never going to be a classic exposition of football - besides it being a derby with all the connotations of that, they aren't capable of it and our reduced ranks lacked the quality and killer punch.

But what we did have left proved to be enough to get past them, and hopefully will be too much for a now-secure Birmingham and condemned Albion. 

Only then can fans and players rest awhile and prepare themselves (and their bank accounts) for another rollercoaster ride. It's not long now and it can't come a moment too soon, but we need a bit more from everyone interested in seeing us progress. 

PS - If you thought this report was going to be all about their followers and what a terrible day, intimidating atmosphere and dangerous arena it was to go to.....well, it wasn't.

For the second season running they were a parody of their former selves, bedraggled and down in the mouth to such an extent they could barely raise their heads to the sunlight let alone try to intimidate the toon contingent.

And once again there was an absence of a welcoming committee for the buses and the only evidence of trouble inside the ground was in the prawn sandwich enclosures, where there were obviously more than one or two black and white infiltrators. 

An arrest total of 49 confirmed a coming together between the loons of both sides away from the ground, but at the fourth time of asking the local bobbies appear to have finally worked out how to deal with the mackem clowns who won't go home.

The streets were cleared of idiots while the Mags were held in the ground then let out through lines of florescent-jacketed constables, with the unwashed penned away out of sight. 

An incident-free exit from this accursed land was then accomplished, back past the same vandalised signposts pointing to "The Stadium of Sh*te" and the "National Sh*te Centre."

May we never return.