TOOTHLESS, BUT NOT HOPELESS

There were always going to be days like this in the post-Andy Carroll era at Newcastle United.

Anyone who watched Newcastle's scoreless draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park would agree that the Magpies controlled the game. But, while they dominated possession, piled up corner kicks and pumped crosses into the box, the visitors failed to produce enough clear-cut scoring chances to collect what would have been three valuable points.

The obvious conclusion most observers will reach is that had Carroll been leading the line instead of Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands, some of the crosses whipped in from the likes of Jose Enrique would have ended up in the back of the net. Beyond the obvious counterpoint — that Carroll wouldn't have been playing anyway since he's still recovering from that pesky thigh injury — there's this: There were days like this even when Carroll was still wearing the No. 9 for the black-and-white.

Now, that's not to defend how Best and Lovenkrands played against Blackburn. Lovenkrands hit the post on a chance that he really should have buried early on after a brilliant long ball from Enrique, but was otherwise anonymous. Best showed endeavor but not much quality. And neither could profit from what seemed like adequate service from Enrique, Gutierrez and Barton. Substitutes Nile Ranger and Shefki Kuqi couldn't provide a late winner, either.

But, while the point leaves United just five points off the relegation places, it's reassuring to know they're still 10th in the league — and that means there are seven teams between them and 17th. And, they looked far and away better than Blackburn, a team they figure to battle with in the middle of the table. A similar performance Tuesday at Birmingham would likely bring a better result.