Hull City 1 Newcastle United 1

Mar 15 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

LET’S hope that in the annals of missed Magpie opportunities, this features as a mere footnote.

Having witnessed Newcastle’s failure to claim a win that was there for the taking, I fear not.

Call me a “glass half-empty” type, but anyone who describes this as a point gained in Newcastle’s battle to beat the drop cannot have seen the panic which took hold of Hull’s players as a tortuous afternoon wore on.

Tigers, tiger burning bright? Sunshine among the KC band? No, here there was nothing but gloom.

And the fact that results elsewhere favoured both teams provided the merest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

A glimmer which could well turn out to be a mirage of sorts, judging on the football they served up yesterday.

At least Newcastle didn’t subside to the defeat which looked nailed on when their woeful start to the game was punished by Geovanni’s ninth-minute opener.

Never mind being savaged by the Tigers, United were bit in the bum by Geremi’s inexplicable presence in their starting line-up — the oldest 30-year-old in football at fault in the run up to an admittedly high-quality goal.

Initially, there was no sign of a Newcastle revival. Indeed, Geovanni went agonisingly close to doubling Hull’s lead.

But then Steven Taylor somehow popped up unnoticed to turn home Nicky Butt’s 38th-minute cross, and it looked like game on.

Sadly, although hapless Hull were often hemmed in their own half after the break, Newcastle’s lack of creativity — and, worryingly, apparent lack of urgency — ensured stalemate endured.

Glass half-empty? Against a side all too aware they have the worst home record in the division, you bet.

Oh, and Michael Owen was playing.

Yes, Newcastle’s “saviour” was also in from the off — in place of Peter Lovenkrands — after almost two months out.

Suffice to say, after 70-odd minutes spent as a non-paying spectator, that Owen’s Messianic qualities remain unverified.

If only Geremi had been a mere passenger.

Caretaker boss Chris Hughton later described the Cameroon international’s inclusion for Ryan Taylor as “tactical”.

It was a brave admission.

Geremi may have hinted at a happy return when he found himself the furthest man forward to meet Jose Enrique’s early cross, but his woeful excuse for a header betrayed the fact he was in nosebleed country.

But just about anywhere on a Premier League pitch looks foreign territory to Geremi these days.

And it didn’t take long for the interloper to be found out.