Plymouth Argyle 0, Newcastle United 0

Jan 4 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

A LONG and difficult journey which ended in a major anti-climax once the destination had been reached.

So now we know how the original Pilgrims who left Plymouth for a life in a New World felt almost 400 years ago.

Where English settlers once found swamps, an increasingly hostile indigenous population, disease and life of toil trying to survive in an untamed America, Newcastle United discovered a Plymouth side ready to fight for its FA Cup survival in difficult conditions which levelled the playing field in their favour.

Newcastle should have won the game, they had bigger and better guns at their disposal and swarmed all over the defensive ranks without managing to make one of several good chances count.

Instead, they were forced to return home with an unwanted extra fixture in an already crowded Championship calendar, a third successive draw and a second successive blank in front of goal.

Yet, before we fall into that usual Newcastle knack of pushing a panic button when a gentle prod will do, we should reflect on the fact their unbeaten run has been stretched to 12 games at the end of a performance better than in many of the games they have won this season.