Newcastle 1-2 Hull

Sep 14 2008

NEWCASTLE owner Mike Ashley was left in no doubt as to the feelings of the club's fans as his crisis club slipped to an embarrassing defeat.

With Ashley and executive director (of football) Dennis Wise nowhere to be seen, it was left to managing director Derek Llambias, the man with whom Kevin Keegan held heated discussions before his resignation, to bear the brunt of a concerted backlash.

Events off the pitch were not helped by events on it for the home side as a promising start was ripped apart by Marlon King's 34th-minute penalty.

By the time King doubled his tally nine minutes after the break, they were in meltdown.

Debutant Xisco pulled a goal back nine minutes from time, but there was to be no salvation on a day when emotions ran high on Tyneside.

Thousands of fans turned up to voice their support for Keegan carrying banners which left observers in little doubt as to where their loyalties lay, among them "Wise up, drink up, sell up", "Ashley and the Wise guy out" and "I'm only here to support my team".