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.