St James’ sharks circle Allardyce

IT was never like this at Bolton for Sam Allardyce. For one thing, they used to beat Liverpool with a regularity that upset the Anfield manager Rafael Benitez.

And, if Bolton did lose games, it was no more than their supporters expected; life at Newcastle is rather different, because of fans whose patience is exhausted after years of failure.

The impatient Toon Army demand to see their loyal support rewarded with a more genuine challenge to the likes of Liverpool, but they witnessed even more proof that the gap between the two teams is widening.