Pardew’s men were beaten 3-0 on home soil – the exact reverse score line from this fixture last season – but the Newcastle boss believes his team were beaten by a Red Devils side that were on top of their game.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men did appear to be firing on all cylinders. They had Wayne Rooney pulling the strings in a slightly deeper role and Robin Van Persie acting as a constant goal threat. After a reasonably slow start, it is coming together for them.

This is why Pardew can’t get too concerned. He – and the experts at Betvictor – knows that his team are capable of beating the best around on their day. That day just wasn’t Sunday.

Speaking about the loss, he said: “I don’t think the United result is a massive setback. If we get beaten 3-0 by one of the lesser sides, for sure, you’d start looking at your team.”

“But that was against opponents with a lot of talent and it did fall for them a little bit. They were two great deliveries, but we should still defend much better than that.”

“Hopefully Steven and Colo will be available as we need more options. We wanted to win so we could go into the derby in really good fettle.”

“Sadly we didn’t manage that, so it’s all about rolling our sleeves up and having a real go.”

It is now the international break for Newcastle of course and Pardew will be desperate for his players to return without any injuries. Then, by the time of the North East derby against Sunderland, Newcastle can be raring to go.

This fixture is always important of course, but given the stop – start nature to Newcastle’s season, it could be even more so. Win this one and Pardew’s men can go from strength to strength.

Then when it comes to football bets, there is no doubt that the Magpies will be backed for another top six finish. They have the manager, the team spirit and the players. It is just about having a big win – ideally against Sunderland – to get them fully into the swing of things.

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There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding who will be where at the beginning of next season. The fact that the squad hasn’t been added to yet this summer is bad enough, but throw in the scenario that Joey Barton is in jail, Mark Viduka is injured (surprise, surprise) and Geremi and Abdoulaye Faye are risking injury in World Cup qualifiers – you’d be forgiven for being a bit apprehensive about the start of next season. Even first team coach – Steve Round – is uncertain he will stay beyond his current deal which expires next week.

A good start is crucial for Keegan’s men next season. Fair enough, there were some positive signs at the end of last season, but a bad start to this coming season could see Newcastle follow a similar run of defeats that plagued Keegan’s first nine games in charge. It doesn’t exactly help that the Magpies start at Old Trafford in a game you would bet on Manchester United to win. Then, after a home game against Bolton, it’s another tough away game, this time against Arsenal.

If Keegan doesn’t make any significant signings before these games and Newcastle suffer their normal injury crisis, it could be the awful start to the campaign that Newcastle fans have nightmares about. Like I said, a positive start, even if it is just in the performance is crucial. Keegan and the fans need to be singing from the same hymn sheet and if a bad start is made – this might not happen.

Two men who are key to Newcastle’s success are Steven Taylor and Michael Owen. First of all, they need to stay fit. Secondly, they need to tie up new contracts. Both these players, along with Steve Harper, see their deals expire in 12 months time and the last thing Newcastle need is speculation about players’ future when the January transfer windows come around. It must be one of Keegan’s highest priorities to tie these players – particularly Owen – down to a long term deal.

There has, of course, been rumours about players coming into the club on a daily basis. However, most of it has been ‘paper talk’ with no real substance. More worryingly, the more significant speculation has involved players leaving the club. James Milner has been linked with a move to Liverpool and fans’ favourite Oba Martins is apparently a target for both Manchester United and Arsenal.

Transfer rumours aside, realistically, the target for Newcastle next season is a top ten finish. That would be a nice improvement. If you were to bet on the Premier League you’d be safe in saying that the ‘big four’ will occupy the top four and if Newcastle could finish in the top six of the next mini-league then I think that would be a decent enough season. Throw in a piece of silverware and it would be an excellent season.

Keegan is, as ever, remaining positive. He believes he can get stuck into the current problems and help Newcastle begin next season well. In my view, all he needs is a little bit of luck – he has the passion and knowledge. He needs a transfer coup to come off, he needs Owen and Viduka to stay fit and he needs the fans on his side from the start. 3-0 win at Old Trafford on the opening day anyone?

Thomas Rooney – Freelance Sports Journalist

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In contrast to what happened around 12 years ago when we were the side who is in the title race with Sir Alex side, last night, Sir Alex backed his old ‘enemy’ Kevin Keegan to upset Avram Grant’s Chelsea side and help him to win the title this year.

“The way Chelsea have been talking, it’s as if it’s going to be easy up there. We know from our experience it won’t be that way,” Ferguson said. “I know Newcastle will do their job honestly in the same way West Ham did. You take Dean Ashton – he was a United fan as a kid – but he scored a goal that could have killed our hopes.”

The truth is, we have nothing to fight for actually in our last two matches this season. We are already securing our place in Premier League next season. But, in my opinion, it’s just a great bonus if we can win our last two games against the team that wears Blue shirt, especially Chelsea.

For tomorrow’s game, Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel or Claude Makelele will have difficult job to mark our skipper. If they do that there are certainly more big problems for their side as they will required another extra players to cover the other areas from Mark Viduka and Oba Martins.

This game will also be a great chance to test our three-pronged attackers against a team with solid defensive cohesion like Chelsea. Keegan’s diamond formation has never been tested against any of the top four side, so Chelsea could be one of them to taste the defeat against United’s transformations.

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Keegan said Newcastle has benefit ahead of Saturday’s fixture with Manchester United from last weekend FA Cup’s day off.

“We have to try to get the balance right in the break and I believe it will be a good thing,” Special K told Newcastle World TV. “By the time we come to Man Utd we would have had everyone together for the first time.”

“Geremi is now back and I’ve now met all of the lads and have got to know everyone that little bit better during the break. The lads have been very focussed and we’ve got through some good work.” King Kev added more.

Keegan has told his squad to get along with what we have until the end of the season. He also challenged the Toon players to make the best of that, and start “nailing down” first-team spots. King Kev hasn’t make any decision of who are his strongest XI.

“We need a win. That’s all we lack at the moment. The confidence will come flowing back and the football will get better and the players will start to trust each other that little bit more.”

“I said to the players ‘There’s no-one nailing much down in terms of the first-team’,” explained Keegan. “Usually you have seven, eight or nine who are definite regulars. But that’s an incentive for everyone at the club to get in the team.”

Keegan said he will also open the door for United’s young players. The young guys have got the future at Newcastle and it’s down to them as much as it is to the club.

One of those promising young starlets that has special attention from Keegan is the Hungary under-21 defender Tamas Kadar.

“Tamas Kadar has taken everything in his stride. He does not speak the language but he is learning one or two things.” King Kev explained, “But on a football field where there is a language all of its own he is saying all the right things.”

United also have Fabio Zamblera who signed from Atalanta, Ben Tozer and Wesley Ngo Baheng comes in, and Keegan believes they are keep learning something new every day and can be the next United’s star when they time is finally arrived.

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But, as a Newcastle fan no matter how predictable the result is, it was still hurt me badly to see how the team going on so far after last Wednesday’s Big Sam parted company with Newcastle. I was wondering what the result would be if we still have Sam “stubborn manager with ugly tactics” Allardyce in charge.

You may say it was no different, and we will still lose the game even with Big Sam. I agree, but maybe we will not suffered with six goals and with a bit of luck we may even can managed to have a draw.

Despite of have playing bad as they say, we can held them in first-half and with a bit of luck Michael Owen’s goal will not disallowed. But in the second-half it proves that continuity and experience are all that matters. They were the better team in terms of continuity, experienced manager.

And what about Toon Army? What I’m going to say now is may not be popular and will sounds negative but I was thinking for the last 10 years, we were dragged us down into the level of “Glory Hunters” and worst than that, we have directors who wants “Instant Success” and trying every possible way including “Buy It Now” options.

Now, I only can say…May God Help Us All

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