Darlo dust-up

Our first friendly of the pre-season ended in a 2-0 victory over Darlington, with goals from captain-for-the-night ASBO and substitute Sammy Ameobi, but that only tells part of the story. The game has unfortunately hit the headlines for a pair of pitch invasions and a handful of ensuing violent confrontations involving members of the 6000-strong travelling contingent. Well done, lads (and lasses) - thought it was about time shame was brought on the club by the actions of the fans rather than of the players, did you?

As would be expected, the club (via Llambiarse) has strongly denounced the actions of the minority, whom police will attempt to identify with video evidence and prosecute. I suppose a punishment for the club remains a possibility too.

Alan Pardew noted that the initial pitch invasion took place following "a jovial kind of chant" - "If Sammy scores, we're on the pitch" - but that it soon turned nasty. He, John Carver and some of the players were forced into peacekeeping roles, shooing miscreants off the pitch and urging calm. On Twitter ASBO has refuted claims in the Daily Heil that fans confronted players.

All in all, hardly auspicious circumstances in which to make your Newcastle debut. Welcome to the Toon, Yohan Cabaye and Mehdi Abeid. Life's never dull around these parts...