To Ell and back - with a point

What to make of yesterday's opening match of the season? I'm still not sure.

On the one hand, we failed to overcome a troubled Leeds side which we were fully expected to slaughter and which is characterised by guts and grit rather than by any skill, quality or flair. They were the sort of "plucky" opposition that Man Utd would have shaken off as one might an annoying yapping little Yorkshire terrier that has attached itself to one's trouser leg.

On the other hand, despite not playing to the best of our abilities at any point, we still looked fluent and dangerous for much of the game (the move for the penalty was as incisive as they come), and created more than enough chances to win - things may have been different had Speed and Bernard not made sloppy and costly errors, and had Robert found the target more often with his numerous wayward thunderbolts from distance. Shearer looks particularly hungry, his two goals an ominous sign for Premiership defences everywhere.

Perhaps, then, we should be satisfied with a point. After all, Leeds weren't easy opposition, combative and fired-up in front of their own fans, plus we didn't pick up any injuries or suspensions (though Woodgate came close to a red card in obstructing Sakho). It was also imperative that we got something on the board before the visit of Man Utd to St James's next Saturday - we need that to give us the confidence to go out and avoid a repeat of last season's mauling...