Town fell to yet another home defeat as Nolberto Solano, last year's red card villain in this fixture, scored a first half winner for Newcastle. Town huffed and puffed and as ever had loads of possession, but as usual the crossing wasn't up to much and clearcut chances were very far and few between.

George Burley made a number of changes from the extremely negative formation which lined-up in Milan on Thursday. Out went Richard Naylor, Jim Magilton and Titus Bramble, in came Alun Armstrong, Marcus Bent and John McGreal. Bramble didn't even feature on the bench.

Before the game David Sheepshanks thanked Town's supporters for their exemplary behaviour in Milan. The players also gave belated applause to supporters, after most disappeared into the San Siro tunnel very swiftly after the game.

The first incident of the game saw Craig Bellamy begin a match long whinge to official Rob Styles as he clashed with Makin. Bellamy, probably the least popular man amongst Town supporters these days, was booed throughout the game.

There was a bit of a scare for Newcastle in the sixth minute when Marcus Bent used his pace to force Given into a mistake as he cleared from the edge of his area. The ball spun into the centre of the pitch with the keeper well away from his goal, but the ball wouldn't fall for either Holland or Wright and the danger went.

On 14 both Jamie Clapham and Alun Armstrong failed to connect with a cross from the right by Bent. Clapham came particularly close to getting a shot on goal, but the ball just went behind him when he was well-placed at the edge of the area.

Town were on top and Finidi George almost found Armstrong with a cross from the right. A freekick at the Town end saw Robert curl the ball well wide.

As so often this season Town's defensive frailties were on display in the 20th minute as Newcastle went ahead. First Solano was left unmarked on the left edge of the area, then Speed who played the ball back to Solano who stroked in, although there was a hint of offside as he stroked the ball home from on the goal-line.

As Sereni led the inquest in the Town box a number of Newcastle fans became obvious within the North Stand. Eventually these fans were led away by stewards. How long before a no away fans policy is enforced in home areas at Portman Road as it is elsewhere in the Premiership?

Jamie Clapham headed a Finidi cross from the edge of the area on 25, but it was no test for Given.

In the 26th minute Hreidarsson just reached a cross from Bellamy as Robert came in at the near post.

Two minutes later Armstrong hit a shot wide after good work down the right from Marcus Bent.

Just ahead of the half hour the crackdown on diving saw Robert enter the ref's book. The Frenchman had rather obviously thrown himself to the ground as he attempted to go past Makin just inside the area on the left.

Armstrong had Town's best attempt of the half on 35 as he hit a curling shot from the edge of the area which Given tipped wide. Armstrong had been set-up well by Bent who was looking impressive.

As half-time referee Rob Styles frustrated the crowd even more than he had up to that point by failing to award the Blues a penalty. Already he was the subject of a fair amount of abuse for some frankly daft decisions. Matt Holland's shot striking a defender on the hand saw Styles join Bellamy as one of the afternoon's anti-heroes. After the ball went out Town players surrounded the ref asking why no kick was given.

Quickly Town were on the attack again and Holland had another shot charged down before Wright hit the ball woefully over the bar when in an excellent position to the right of Given's goal.

Styles was the target of abuse again as he bizarrely failed to penalise Bellamy as he blatantly pulled McGreal down as the Town defender turned him inside the Town half. As he fell McGreal grabbed the ball with Bellamy stepping on him and kicking the ball from his hands. The ex-Norwich player's shot deflected up into Sereni's arms and play moved to the other end before going out. To add insult to injury McGreal was then booked, either for something he said or handling the ball. The half ended and boos and shouts of 'cheat' rang around the ground as Styles left the field.

Town made no changes at the break and Styles continued his refereeing masterclass. Bent was pulled down by Robbie Elliott, one of the Bolton players sent off here in the play-off semi-final two years ago. A freekick seemed a formality but as so often Styles saw no foul.

On 48 Armstrong rounded Given as the keeper rushed out towards the right of his box. The ex-Boro man took the ball too wide and Given was back to collect his cross aimed for bent.

Newcastle came close to adding a second as Sereni made a good save from Shearer. Makin bundled the ball for a corner as Bellamy sought to get the rebound.

Finidi George played a deep cross to Jamie Clapham on 52 who headed the ball back across goal towards Armstrong, but the ball was cleared for a corner. The corner went across the box to Finidi who headed back for Bent who hit a shot on the turn over the bar.

On the hour Alun Armstrong hit a volley over the bar after Bent had chested down.

In the 61st minute there was another shout for a Town penalty. This time it was Jermaine Wright's shot which appeared to be stopped by a hand. Again Styles saw nothing. Armstrong actually had a good chance to score as the crowd and players appealed but Given came out quickly to block his effot from the edge of the six-yard box. Fans frustrations with Styles were reaching new levels.

John McGreal made an important tackle on 65 as Bellamy got by him and sped into the area on the right. The Town defender slid in to prevent the former Canary getting a shot in at Sereni. From the resulting corner Shearer went in hard and illegally on Sereni. Wild cheers greeted Styles rare decision to give Town a freekick.

George Burley decided that changes were needed in the 66th minute. Off went Finidi George and Alun Armstrong, both players lacking in match fitness. On came Sixto Peralta and Pablo Couñago.

Marcus Bent shot from the edge of the area a minute later, but Given wasn't going to be beaten on his near post.

Pablo was quickly into Styles's book as his frustrations with the official got the better of him. The Spaniard had been fouled while trying to hold the ball up, but Styles had waved play-on. Pablo made his feelings known and was booked for his trouble.

Four minutes later Hreidarsson was also in the book as Styles penalised him for a foul on Hughes on the touchilne. Hreidarsson and the Town crowd in the lower West Stand made Styles well aware that they thought that Hughes had dived.

Peralta, still looking for a first Town goal, hit a shot over in the 76th minute as he exchanged passes with Pablo, although the ball did appear to take a deflection as it went over.

Matteo Sereni impressed on 78 as he saved a one-on-one with Bellamy as the Newcastle striker got away beyond the Town defence.

With eleven minutes left Jermaine Wright hit a shot which defelcted to Given after Holland, Couñago and Hreidarsson had all failed to get a shot in as Town continued to press for the equaliser.

The 80th minute saw Kieron Dyer enter the fray as a sub. He received a warm greeting from most Town fans, although there was the odd boo to be heard.

Four minutes later Pablo Couñago almost played in Sixto Peralta but a defender cleared for a corner. Richard Naylor was added to the Town attack as Jermaine Wright was sacrificed.

As the game entered injury time Pablo Couñago put the ball over the bar from a tight angle after good work from Peralta.

With time almost up there was one final moment of controversy. Richard Naylor was played through down the middle and a defender ran straight across in front of him sending him flying. Naylor was well outside the area, but he had a free run on goal. Again referee Styles saw nothing untoward.

Boos rang around Portman Road again as the whistle went, partly for the referee, but partly as another defeat was absorbed.

Despite a very trying performance from referee Styles, possibly the worst we've seen at Portman Road this year, Town must look at their own shortcomings, in attack, defence and midfield. The marking for the Newcastle goal was non-existent while the crosses failed to reach their man 90% of the time. Shooting was seemed to be avoided if possible and when shots did come in they rarely tested Given, only Armstrong's effort in the first half forced Given into a truly decent save. The side looks very desperately short of confidence.

Town are now in a very hazardous position indeed. A swift haul of several points are now a necessity of the club aren't to see themselves relegated early in the new year. The run over Christmas where the Blues play Leicester, Sunderland and Charlton now looks like a crucial period of the season where Town must end the current appalling run. And something from the Aston Villa and Spurs games in between would also be more than welcome.

Photo: Action Images

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