Newcastle 0-0 Bolton

Jan 20 2008 Rob Fairburn At St James' Park

ALL that was missing was the pre-match firework display but Kevin Keegan's first game in charge on his much hyped return to Tyneside turned into a damp squib.

Anew generation of Newcastle fans have emerged without witnessing the King in action as either player or manager after an 11-year absence from St James' Park and they must have wondered why he was given a hero's welcome on this evidence.

For all the promises of attacking and entertaining football under Keegan it was perhaps inevitable the outcome would be a no-score bore draw.

While the match was instantly forgettable there was no mistaking the rousing reception the Messiah received from the Geordie faithful as kick-off approached.

Never mind what little stirring action there was on the pitch because off it Newcastle are in a class of their own. And they certainly know how to do coronations. How else do you explain the sight of thousands of grown men and women wearing black and white crowns bearing the words "The return of the King - I was there 19.01.08"?

The local evening paper also got in on the act by giving away free Keegan facemasks.

Not surprisingly there was no spare seat inside St James'. It was a 52,250 sell-out as Keegan emerged down the tunnel.

And while he has been out of the game concentrating on his Soccer Circus in Glasgow for the past few years he showed he had lost none of his man management skills by appointing Michael Owen (below) captain in the absence of regular skipper Alan Smith who was suspended.

There had been speculation of a rift over comments made by the striker when Keegan was England manager but King Kev put that one to bed with immediate effect.

Smith, in his programme notes, described how everyone at the club was "one million per cent" behind the new manager.

With all the hype going on it was easy to forget there were vital Premiership points at stake with the visit of Bolton who must have felt like an uninvited guest at a wedding.

They were keen to gatecrash the party and Shay Given had to save two efforts from Kevin Davies in the first five minutes.

It took Keegan all of eight minutes before jumping to his feet and patrolling the edge of his technical area, barking instructions to his defenders to move up.

King Kev wasn't happy with what he saw in the first half as he stood with arms folded. No doubt he sprouted a few more grey hairs at the enormity of the task facing him.

His all-attacking, free-flowing Newcastle team of 11 years ago seemed a distant memory.

As United struggled Bolton fans joined in the fun, chanting "You'll be sacked in the morning".

While Keegan can be safe in the knowledge he'll get longer than the eight months Sam Allardyce had - thanks to the backing of megabucks owner Mike Ashley - he knows he has a huge job ahead.

His side failed to create a decent chance in the first half as the game was a virtual nonevent compared to the build-up.

To their credit, Newcastle dominated after the interval.

But the closest they came to scoring against a rock-solid Bolton rearguard was James Milner's cross-cum-shot that was tipped over the bar by keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

With seven minutes to go Shola Ameobi headed Stephen Carr's cross inches over.

Newcastle had the visitors pinned back in their own half but could not break them down.

Indeed Bol ton almost snatched victory in the last minute only for Given to pull off a point-blank save from sub Jlloyd Samuel.

Facing up to teams who pack their midfield and play just one up front, in this case Davies, is a relatively new phenomenon in the Premiership and one Keegan will have to learn how to crack if his style of football is to bring success to Tyneside.