WHEN it comes to tactical know-how Kevin Keegan has found himself regularly on the receiving end of some far from fair criticism.

It started at Newcastle when his free-flowing attractive football was seen as 'gung-ho' in some quarters, and left him open to repeated questions about his defensive know-how. At Fulham his success saw the issue placed on the back-burner only to rear its head - and how - when he took over the England hot-seat.

It culminated with his emotional resignation speech after the defeat to Germany in October 2000: ''I just felt that I fell short of what was required in the job".

Sir Bobby Robson, however, is a manager whose tactics are something that are rarely called into question - unless of course he opts for the 'dreaded' three centre-backs model.

That model reared its head on Saturday at Maine Road, coming five days after the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation had destroyed West Ham 4-0.

A trip to a team just promoted, who had come off a 3-0 defeat the previous weekend should hold few fears for the fourth best team in the Premiership.

But Sir Bobby felt change was the best policy and after the game was unrepentant about his tactical switch.

"If we're going to play with a flat back-four then Anelka's pace and Huckerby's dribbling ability might just make some chances for them," he said.

"So I decided to play just three on two."

Unfortunately even with three on two former Magpie Darren Huckerby had half a dozen clear cut chances in the first-half alone and Nicolas Anelka two or three of his own.

Keegan admitted: "That is as good a 45 minutes as any team of mine has played in the top league.

"We played like that a few times last year but because it's against Newcastle United - a class act - because it's the Premiership you think wow!

"The only thing that's amazing is that were not looking at an amazing scoreline.

"Sir Bobby's team is full of goals and they had four forwards up at the end.

"If I had of done that in my time at Newcastle I would of got slaughtered - I stopped at three and a half."

But even with four forwards Sir Bobby kept faith with his system and after the game felt his triumvirate of central defenders - who for periods appeared at odds with each other's position - had performed admirably

"Aaron Hughes is a great marker and actually Aaron was one of our best players - he was outstanding," said Robson.

"Dabizas I thought played well and Bramble was so-so.

"I didn't want to play two in midfield against their three, so I brought Gary Speed back in who's been out for two weeks.

"He's Welsh captain and a very experienced player.

"We have a young side and I just felt today we needed that one player with extra experience so I left out Hugo (Viana) and we changed the system.

"We had a couple of poor performances from a couple of players and that didn't help us.

"We knew they'd come at us and we were prepared for that.

"We'd try and see the first 20 minutes out which we did.

"And the goal itself was questionable."

But despite the questionable goal after 36 minutes, Keegan's team should have sealed victory by the half hour.

Huckerby was guilty of wasting a number of opportunities his own speed - and Ali Benarbia's superb vision - had created.

And when he did get on the scoresheet he appeared to be offside twice in the move that created the goal.

A cross from Anelka was met at the edge of the box by Niclas Jensen whose shot was well saved by Given.

Jermaine Jenas' attempted clearance landed back in the danger zone and Huckerby scrambled the ball home off his head from six yards

Less than two minutes later an unbelievable miss from Kieron Dyer, who failed to take advantage of a rebound after Peter Schmeichel had saved brilliantly from Lomana LuaLua, saw the Magpie's best chance go begging.

Robson refused to blame Dyer whose advanced position ahead of a defensive midfield duo, gave him the freedom to run at the heart of the City defence.

"We let Kieron Dyer play in front of a midfield two and play off the strikers and get in between them which he did all afternoon," said Robson.

"Kieron could have scored three goals. He knows he should have scored the first one and the first thing he said at half-time was "sorry lads".

"He's got to knock that in and he knows that."

Dyer himself admitted that he was already planning his celebration as the ball left his foot - unfortunately you can't celebrate hitting the advertising hoardings behind the goal.

So it ended 1-0 to City in goals, with 'tactically nave' Keegan proving more than a match for Sir Bobby

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