AS the excitable crowd quickly gathered around the England team coach there were plenty of cheers and a few jeers.

David Beckham, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard and David James - one by one they all trooped off and up towards the main reception of the Milburn Stand.

Ironically it was Kieron Dyer, the Newcastle United player, who received the most volatile reception, an indication of what lies ahead.

Watching the first half from the bench, looking around the stands with their many empty seats, Dyer must have hoped he was going to get off lightly - but not this time. After running on to the pitch as Steven Gerrard's replacement he was booed, and when his name was read by the tannoy announcer he was barracked.

Not the homecoming he would have liked, particularly on a night when he earned his 24th cap for his country. After an alleged row with Sir Bobby Robson and passing the Newcastle captain's armband on to the next man at Middlesbrough on Saturday, perhaps he could have expected such abuse.

And, despite Sven Goran Eriksson's demands for restraint from the supporters, the boos echoed around his home stadium.

Harsh? Maybe. But with so many supporters from different clubs in the crowd there is no way of telling who were the instigators. Roll on Saturday, when Tottenham visit St James' Park.

Then there will be 52,000 screaming Geordies and Dyer will wake up this morning wondering just what their chants will be.

Last night, there were just over 35,000 fans inside the ground, more than expected but less than craved. Following the disappointments and failings of the Euro 2004 campaign, coupled with the Faria Alam scandal, those who turned out on a stormy night should be praised - and they witnessed a promising England display.

The last time England visited Tyneside was three years ago, when 51,000 crammed into the ground.

But that party occasion came just days after the amazing 5-1 hammering of Germany in Munich.

As well as Dyer, Eriksson came under fire on the morning before the game for picking such a defensive side. That poorly crafted diamond came into the equation again, with the urgent need for excitement seemingly lost on the sophisticated Swede.

But while the rest of the nation, and probably the squad, demanded an attacking formation, Eriksson chose to overlook the option of entertaining, and that was to Nicky Butt's gain.

Having missed out on the chance to kick a ball at the European Championships and following the retirement of Paul Scholes, this was Butt's chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the England side.

He could not have wished for a better start to his Newcastle career at Middlesbrough on Saturday. But replicating that man-of-the-match Magpies debut was a must last night in his bid to stand any chance of playing a big part in the qualifiers in Austria and Poland next month.

To the player's credit, Butt did exactly what was asked of him - sit tight in front of the back four and break up Ukraine's play; playing things simple when required and not venturing forward when there was no cause to.

That may not have been to everyone's liking, most notably the scribes in the press box, who were ready to pounce and hammer another nail in Eriksson's managerial coffin.

However, after a nervy start, it was an effective tactic which played its part in a comfortable evening.

In this country the football public have been spoilt.

Since the Premiership's inception 12 years ago the stadiums have been blessed with an adventurous, attacking style of play that rarely fails to serve up a treat.

And at St James', during the Kevin Keegan days in particular, it would be difficult to compile a DVD with the 100 best goals as there were so many.

The same cannot be said of the Eriksson period in charge of England - or even those who reigned before him.

As well as Shaun Wright-Phillips' solo strike, there was that night in Germany, in Eriksson's early days, when England could not put a foot wrong.

Even Nicky Barmby was on song as Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and David Beckham took massive steps towards super-stardom.

And Beckham, off the boil in Portugal, looked as though he wanted to recapture his best last night to show his homeland that his personal life and his off-the-field matters have not diminished the responsibility he has as captain of his country.

There was no ground disappearing underneath him and there were no apparent weight problems. This was a Beckham ready to charge everything down, clearly set on putting the record straight.

And, for the record, he has. For now.

A goal and an an assist what more can his critics want?