Bramble has his point

UNPREDICTABILITY is a way of life at Newcastle United, but even St James’ Park die-hards might have trooped away on Saturday scratching their heads in bemusement at what they had just witnessed.

This game’s frantic finale had Newcastle running the full gamut of emotions: in the 80th minute, they were heading for a potentially disastrous home defeat, courtesy of Ryan Taylor’s spectacular third- minute strike. Then Michael Owen hauled them level after coming off the substitutes’ bench.

Seven minutes later, they were ahead thanks to a thunderous effort from Obafemi Martins but there was more drama to come: a last-minute equaliser from a player still the butt of 1000 jokes in this part of the world.

But Titus Bramble it was who headed in from a corner to earn Wigan an unlikely point and leave Newcastle’s crestfallen players befuddled and bemused.

“We felt we would win the game,” Sebastien Bassong said. “At the end, we were disappointed. We were very disappointed about the result because we had to win the game.”

Wigan were incensed with referee Andre Marriner, who sent off Emmerson Boyce for a second bookable offence – a foul on Shola Ameobi. TV replays confirmed manager Steve Bruce’s argument that Boyce had won the ball.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Given 6, Beye 6, Bassong 6, Coloccini 4, Jose Enrique 5 (N’Zogbia 68, 5), Gutierrez 5 (Owen 68, 6), Barton 4 (Guthrie 16, 6), Butt 7, Duff 6, Ameobi 6, Martins 7.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Geremi, Carroll.

WIGAN (4-4-2): Kirkland 7, Taylor 6 (De Ridder 81, 5), Bramble 7, Boyce 6, Figueroa 6, Scharner 6, Cattermole 6, Palacios 6, Kapo 7 (Brown 90, 5), Camara 7 (Kilbane 90, 5), Valencia 6.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Cywka, Kupisz, Routledge.

REFEREE: Andre Marriner (West Midlands) 5: Terrible decision to give Boyce a second yellow card.

MATCH RATING: *** Routine until the final, harum-scarum final 15 minutes.