Leyton Orient 6 Newcastle United 1

Jul 26 2009 by Stuart Jamieson, Sunday Sun

THEY might have changed their strip to a new custard cream-coloured design, but depressingly little else has altered at Newcastle United this summer.

Even after nearly four weeks on the training ground with former defender Chris Hughton, they still have one of the crumbliest, flakiest defences in the world. Sometimes when they were hob-nobbing with the Premier League big boys, the Magpies’ aerial failings were not exposed as ruthlessly as they might be.

But the Football League’s tough cookies will have no qualms about launching the ball into Newcastle’s area at every available opportunity. Certainly not if they watch the video of this pre-season friendly.

As Sean Thornton lined up to take yet another free-kick in the 35th minute, his Orient team-mate Ben Chorley helpfully pointed to the heavens. The former Sunderland midfielder may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but surely even he had worked that one out.

After, Thornton had been regularly delivering the ball and watching United’s defenders fail to P-P-P-pick up a player. It took just four minutes for the League One side to take advantage of the weakness that has dogged Newcastle far too long. By then Joey Barton was already fulfilling his role as pantomime villain to perfection.

The Scouse midfielder went down injured in the first minute and, though there were probably few more home fans than away, they still managed a pretty loud cheer.

Unfortunately for United, referee Jarnail Singh seemed to be taking a clapometer approach to proceedings.

So when Barton’s tussle with Thornton had them baying, Mr Singh gave them with a free-kick. Thornton ripped his opposite number’s shirt in the challenge and seemed to get a bit of a slap for his troubles.

When Thornton played the ball in from the free-kick it was taxi for Newcastle time as the visiting defence stood and watched Jimmy Smith head into the net. When the same pair combined at a 12th-minute corner, Damien Duff cleared off the goal-line. Jamie Scowcroft beat Fabricio Coloccini at another Thornton free-kick and Adrian Patuela outjumped Steven Taylor at the back post. Both efforts were off target.

Finally, eventually, Newcastle started to get their act together.

They were no better at the back, but realised the best way to protect a back four with all the solidity of a Tunnock’s tea cake was to keep the ball. The fit-again Habib Beye was at the heart of most of the good things they did, charging down the right. At half-time he moved into United’s soft centre.