Many left St James' Park arguing "I haven't seen a good performance from the Toon all season and it's almost December!"
Only Newcastle United could get booed off the pitch after qualifying for the next round of a cup competition.
And I'm not taking a swipe at the fans ... far from it!
They noticed the warning signs that things "aren't quite right" a lot earlier than manager Alan Pardew.
Liverpool and Tottenham, who both face possible elimination on the final night of the Europa League group stage, would certainly like to be in the Magpies’ position with a game to go.
But all we have had all season is Pardew's lack of motivation in a competition he said in August is "not one of my priorities".
One week he says "we are out to win it" ... then the next he says it's a competition he could "do without"!
His priority is the bread and butter of the Premier League; a competition we were never going to challenge for this season; so what was his ambition this term ... to qualify for Europe?
It's bizarre to say the least.
Every club wants European football ... so why is Pardew moaning?
This is the ONE competition we could possibly win!
Danny 'The Dog': 'I't Football - Not X Factor'
That little scamp, Danny Simpson, has shrugged off the front page headlines and insisted his focus on Newcastle United ... NOT X-Factor.
Simpson’s relationship with X-Factor judge and former N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos had the gossip columns full this week.
Danny Simpson: “The manager’s been really supportive – everybody here has.
“They say what they want, but everybody around me knows the truth.
"Sometimes when all of that is going on around you, it’s the best time to play football.
“You go on the pitch, and you can forget about everything.
“If anything in the last couple of games, I’ve really enjoyed it.
"I feel like I’m getting back to my old self from last season. I’m pretty pleased with that.
“The fans are class – they always stick up for you when one of your players is going through a situation.
“They’re top fans, and it’s good when you come to your workplace and the fans, staff and players are around you.
“I have a lot of friends in football, and good people around me.
“The manager has been different class too.
"The main thing now is to play my part and play on Sunday at Southampton and get three points.
“The main aim when we got into the Europa League was to qualify.
“We’ve done that, but it would have been nice to win given the last couple of results at home. We wanted a clean sheet and to win.
“It was an opportunity to kick start the season.
“We got the goal, and we thought it would go well from there. It wasn’t meant to be again, and the second half was pretty poor, to be honest.”
Souness Ended 32 Years Of Toon Nothingness!
The last time we played Southampton on the South coast ...
2004/5 SOUTHAMPTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2
SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Nilsson, Lundekvam, Jakobsson, Le Saux, Fernandes, Prutton, Delap, Anders Svensson (Best 76), Phillips (Crouch 67), Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Blayney, Higginbotham, Telfer.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Elliott, O'Brien, Bernard, Bellamy, Butt, Bowyer, Jenas, Kluivert (Milner 67), Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Robert, Hughes, Ambrose, Harper.
Att: 30,709
Graeme Souness returned to Southampton to preside over his first Premiership victory for Newcastle and the Magpies' first away win in the league against the Saints for 32 years.
It was also Newcastle's first Premiership away win since last October and it would have completed the perfect tale had Alan Shearer, recalled to the side, scored the goal that sparked the victory - as Southampton's PA announcer claimed.
But it was an own goal by David Prutton, stabbing in Shearer's cross-shot clearly before it crossed the line, that worked the oracle - along, of course, with Stephen Carr's stunning second-half winner after Anders Svensson had snapped up an equaliser.
Souness, appointed successor to Sir Bobby Robson, found the note of success in ringing the changes.
He brought back Shearer and Craig Bellamy as well as French defender Olivier Bernard after midweek rests on the bench in the UEFA Cup, left out the normally-dependable Aaron Hughes and the often unpredictable Laurent Robert.
With Kluivert partnering Shearer in attack and another new-boy Nicky Butt keeping a central midfield role despite his sending off as a substitute on Thursday, Bellamy was given the right-side slot where the injured Keiron Dyer had been playing. The England man had damaged a hamstring in training.
Souness had already lost at St Mary's this season when a last-minute James Beattie penalty contentiously beat his old Blackburn side. And he might have been forgiven for thinking rough justice was again at work in the opening minutes here.
Prutton, whose later contribution was to prove much more significant, chose two hard targets for early dubious challenges - both Butt and then Lee Bowyer going down from his late challenges which referee Chris Foy did not see.
Newcastle needed an alert Shay Given save in the 16th minute, however, to prevent Fabrice Fernandes' well-struck volley from sneaking home on the bounce but within two minutes Shearer, who had scored only three goals in 16 previous appearances against Saints and had never won an away match against his old club since leaving, should have buried a header.
He was up with typical power to meet Bowyer's right-wing corner, the product of a deflection off Graeme Le Saux from an earlier Shearer header, but put his effort wide of the mark. His screwed-up facial expression said everything about his disappointment.
With 23 minutes gone, Beattie - a Newcastle summer target - led a lightning Saints break with a brilliant run and was only foiled right at the death by Robbie Elliott's fine tackle.
Long-range efforts by Butt, one straight at Antti Niemi, another miles off target, were the sum total of Newcastle's first half threat even though they largely had the edge in the first half - until Kluivert just failed to convert
Bellamy's low right-wing cross with an attempt at a diving header. The ball just brushed off his forehead.
But the Saints fans who reacted with obscene chants whenever Souness appeared in his pitch-side technical area, had good reason for cursing when Prutton stabbed Shearer's shot across his own line just before the half time interval.
He made amends with the ball in that provoked Svensson to pull away from his marker and shoot home past Given on the turn eight minutes after the break but then Carr's wonderful strike retrieved Newcastle's lead four minutes further on.
Jermaine Jenas touched a free kick aside and the £2million Irishman from Tottenham curled a beautiful effort away from Niemi from all of 30 yards.
And although Saints huffed and puffed manfully to the end, sending on big Peter Crouch for little Kevin Phillips and youngster Leon Best to make his debut in place of scorer Svensson, they had to depend on a smart save from Niemi to again prevent Shearer netting a header to improve his scoring record against his old club.
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC 2012/13
Newcastle United Fixtures
Sunday November 25 15:00 Southampton v Newcastle United
Wednesday November 28 19:45 Stoke City v Newcastle United
Monday December 3 20:00 Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic
Thursday December 6 18:00 Bordeaux v Newcastle United
Monday December 10 20:00 Fulham v Newcastle United
Saturday December 15 12:45 Newcastle Utd v Manchester City
Saturday December 22 15:00 Newcastle United v QPR
Wednesday December 26 15:00 Man Utd v Newcastle United
Saturday December 29 17:30 Arsenal v Newcastle United
PREMIERSHIP
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (74' Bigirimana), S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Anita, Tiote, Ferguson (46' Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi (79' Marveaux), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Amalfitano, Tavernier,Abeid
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1
Krul, Simpson (79' Obertan), Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (24' Anita), Ferguson, Cisse (45+5' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs:Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux.
LIVERPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Anita, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (26' Simpson), Cabaye (68' Ferguson), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba (49' Sammy Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (61 Cisse), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (72 Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi (61 Obertan).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Steven Taylor, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cabaye)
Krul,Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (79' S Taylor) Santon, Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa (83' Obertan), Ba, Shola Ameobi (38' Perch).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Cisse, Ferguson
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN UTD 3
Harper, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson (63' Anita), Ben Arfa, Tiote (80' Bigirimana), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Cisse (63' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
READING 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor (Tavernier 56), Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Bigirimana (Ferguson 70), Gutierrez, Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 1 NORWICH 0 (Ba)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa (Shola 85mins), Anita (Tiote 76 mins), Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse (Obertan 70 mins), Ba
Subs unused: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper; Perch, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Anita, Cabaye (Bigirimana 93), Gutierrez; Marveaux (Ba 46), Ben Arfa; Cissé (Shola Ameobi 80).
Substitutes not used Elliot (g), Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 86), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 64), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon (Marveaux 74), Ben Arfa, Anita, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Perch, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita, 71), Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba (Obertan, 85). Subs not used: Harper; R Taylor, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
EUROPA LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 1 MARITIMO 1
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux, Bigirimana, Anita, Sammy Ameobi (76' Abeid), Ben Arfa (40' Ba), Cisse (50' Amalfitano)
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Ferguson, Tavernier'.
CLUB BRUGGE 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson (58' Steven Taylor), Coloccini, Tavernier, Tiote, Sammy Ameobi (83' Amalfitano), Marveaux, Bigirimana (72' Cabaye), Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Sub: Elliot, Santon, Cisse, Shane Ferguson
NEWCASTLE 1 CLUB BRUGGE 0 (Obertan)
Harper, Perch, Santon, Steven Taylor, Ferguson 80 (Cabaye), Obertan, Tiote, Bigirimana, Anita 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi 73' (Coloccini), Cisse
Subs: Krul, Ben Arfa, Ba, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 3 BORDEAUX 0 (Shola Ameobi, Henrique og), Cisse)
Elliot (Harper, 46 ); Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Anita, Tiote (Gosling, 71), Cabaye (Bigirimana, 61); Cisse, Ameobi, Obertan.
MARITIMO 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Perch, S Taylor, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Bigirimana, Obertan (Marveaux 80), Vuckic (Sami Ameobi 53), Shola Ameobi.
Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ATROMITOS 0 (Vuckic)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor (11 Vuckic), Obertan, Bigirimana, Perch (59 Tavernier), Marveaux (91 Amalfitano), Gosling, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Cabaye, Cisse, Campbell.
ATROMITOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (R Taylor)
Harper; Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor; Bigirimana, Anita; Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano, 64), Marveaux (Gutierrez, 71); Cisse (Campbell, 77). Subs not used: Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S Taylor.
LEAGUE CUP
MAN UTD 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch, Tavernier, Gosling, Marveaux, Tioté (Bigirimana 71), Obertan, Vuckic (Cisse 81), Shola Ameobi.
Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.
PRE-SEASON
CARDIFF CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Steven Taylor (Gosling 63), Santon, Obertan (Campbell 83), Tiote (Amalfitano 71) , Gutiérrez, Marveaux (Vuckic 46), R Taylor (Perch 28), Shola Ameobi.
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 5 (Shola Ameobi, Marveaux 2, Obertan, Vuckic)
Harper (Alnwick 82), Simpson (Good 72), Tavernier, Williamson, S.Taylor (Vuckic 46), Perch (R.Taylor 72), Gosling, Amalfitano (Santon 80), Marveaux (Obertan 78), Sh.Ameobi (Ben Arfa 46), Bigirimana (Abeid 59).
DEN HAAG 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; S Taylor (Gosling 65), R Taylor (Perch 71), Coloccini, Santon (Simpson 80); Obertan (Bigirimana 71), Tiote (Ameobi 71), Vuckic (Williamson 65), Gutierrez; Ba (Amalfitano 82), Cisse
BRAGA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, R Taylor)
Harper; Simpson, Tavernier, Coloccini, R.Taylor; Sammy Ameobi (Obertan 88), Tiote (Cabaye 70), Gutierrez, Marveaux; Cisse, Ba (Vuckic 85).
OLYMPIACOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (S Taylor)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor (Dummett 46), Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano, Vuckic, Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72).
FENERBAHCE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Abeid)
Elliot, Simpson (Santon 68), Tavernier, Coloccini, R Taylor, Tiote (Bigirimana 59), Gosling (Abeid 73), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 75), Marveuax (Gutierrez 59), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba (Cisse 68).
MONACO 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba)
Harper, Santon (Ryan Taylor 57), Simpson, Williamson (Perch 46), Gutierrez, Amalfitano (Obertan 62), Abeid (Tavernier 46), Bigirimana (Tiote 62), Sammy Ameobi (Vuckic 46), Shola Ameobi (Gosling 62), Ba (Marveaux 78)
CHEMNITZER 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot; Tavernier (Simpson, 70), Williamson, Perch, R Taylor (Santon, 70); Obertan (Gutierrez, 77), Abeid (Bigirimana, 70), Gosling, Amalfitano; Vuckic (Shola Ameobi, 70), Sammy Ameobi (Ba, 77). Sub not used: Harper.