Well let’s hope it gets better after the break!

Neither team carried much threat in a first 45 minutes which may have had a few looking at their mobiles or tablets for alternative terms of amusement.

It always looked a bit dodgy when it became clear that Andy Carroll was being played as a single striker with presumably Morgan Amalfitano playing off him – not that we saw much of that in a dull first half dominated by the defences.

Newcastle created a chance within two minutes when Ayoze Perez – under pressure from James Tomkins – turned sharply inside the box but shot two or three yards wide.

Sissoko then produced a decent run down the right side but his centre could find nobody and the chance was gone.

The Hammers first – indeed only – shot came from Downing who drew a low save from Elliott after good work from the energetic Jarvis.

Carroll of course won his share of headers but with no natural partner it was difficult to see how there would be a decent converaion rate.

Will we see Zarate in the second half or is it m ore likely that Kevin Nolan will be thrown on?