Off the field activities are again dominating, or at least rivalling, the on-pitch activities at St James' Park.

If the British film industry were to capture the goings on in celluloid, it would be probably called St Pantomime Park and resemble something between a Carry On movie, The Office and Jack in the Beanstalk.

Only Newcastle United could possibly allow their best defender, Olivier Bernard, to talk about leaving; only Newcastle United would sell their one true world-class defender, Jonathan Woodgate, without having a replacement lined up; only Newcastle United would try and buy a striker for £20m when they already have four quality forwards at the club - and in dire need of defenders.

But that is only the tip of the iceberg.

The calamitous Patrick Kluivert contract saga is yet to be resolved.

Arguably United's only maker and taker of goals, Laurent Robert, whose CV guarantees ten goals and 25 assists a season, apparently does not work hard enough in training.

Yet when the French winger is absent from the side the Magpies have no one - Kluivert aside - who can carve chances out of nothing or take set-pieces, as witnessed last night.

All of these topics have been raging through the streets, pubs, clubs and bingo halls of Newcastle since August.

Added to that comes the decline in fortunes since Graeme Souness took over.

And not forgetting chairman Freddie Shepherd's ill perceived comments about the lower leagues of course.

Leaving club politics aside, Craig Bellamy got United off to flying start last night, but as always, they shot themselves in the foot and conceded from set-piece.

Bellamy had two further chances to put the game beyond doubt before half-time but failed to convert leaving Newcastle tentatively hanging on to the end.

Judging by last night's attendance, the second lowest of the season, it would be fair to say supporters have had a bellyful.

And who can blame them?

They've been fed on empty promises; unfulfilled potential and comedy slapstick for years.

And unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the New Year, season tickets could be swapped for cinema tickets at the Gate - there is only so much pantomime you can take.