Same old problems hinder United

THE members of the foreign legion at Newcastle United may have been ordered to speak the one language on the training ground. But, with seven Englishmen in Sam Allardyce's starting line-up, it is evident the main problem is with the players' feet rather than communication.

Conceding 12 goals in their last five Premier League fixtures highlights where the problem lies for the Magpies, and worryingly all four of Sam Allardyce's centre-backs have all made mistakes during that run.

And with fierce North-East rivals Sunderland next on the horizon, the programme notes of goalkeeper Shay Given - 'let's plug the leaks' - have never been more timely.

Such a comment has gone hand in hand with Newcastle in recent years and it has been one of Allardyce's priorities to make sure the defensive deficiencies of the past are rectified.

However, courtesy of a dreadful opening 11 minutes from Brazilian centre-back Cacapa, it is clear that one of the manager's first targets is well short of being fulfilled.

If Newcastle had won this fixture then failing to keep a clean sheet for the eighth game in a row would have counted for little. As it was, however, Allardyce's men never looked like running a cultured Portsmouth close, never mind shutting them out.

Not since the 4-1 defeat to Fulham a fraction under three years ago have the St James' Park faithful witnessed a Newcastle team leak four in a Premier League home fixture; which was the start of a run of games in which Graeme Souness won just one more in 2004.

On that occasion it took a Steed Malbranque-inspired Cottagers 71 minutes to claim a three goal cushion. A far cry from Saturday when Portsmouth - who have now won their last five away from home - coasted to such an advantage inside 11.

The incredible turn of events started when Pompey full-back Noe Pamarot drilled a 25-yard rocket into Steve Harper's top left corner, after meeting Nicky Butt's clearance with a stunning first time drive.

That arrived on eight minutes and less than 60 seconds later the mountainous figure of Papa Boupa Diop sent striker Benjani for a race with Cacapa.

Newcastle's summer signing from French champions Lyon was brushed aside far too easily and the Premier League's leading scorer found the inside of Harper's far post.

With the Tyneside support stunned to silence, and owner Mike Ashley rubbing his eyes to make sure he was not dreaming, there was worse to come two minutes later.

Steven Taylor's weak back-header handed possession to Nigerian John Utaka. The lively forward skipped his way around Cacapa as though he wasn't there, did similar to Harper, before rolling the third into an empty net.

Portsmouth were well on their way to recording a first victory at St James' in 58 years and Allardyce, angered at what he had witnessed, moved from his seat next to Ashley and chairman Chris Mort to pitch-side.

The fortuitous way Newcastle clawed one back was undeserved. Sol Campbell headed into his own net after David James had denied both Charles N'Zogbia and Michael Owen.

And it did little to alter the fury inside Allardyce, illustrated by the way he hooked Cacapa off moments later. "I had experienced Premiership players out there and they didn't use it against a very good side," said Allardyce. "We were our own worst enemy.

"Claudio will pick himself up. He was looking a little laboured that is why I made the early change. He has enough experience to accept the fact that he has made some mistakes.

"When you look in the mirror you know if you have done alright or not. Claudio knows he has made that mistake. He is one of the few you thought wouldn't make that type of mistake, but he did.

"We all learn from that and we try to learn from those mistakes and eliminate them as much as we possibly can."

There is certainly little excuse for the sloppiness in Newcastle's play but, in fairness to the players, Allardyce could also be criticised for some of his selections.

Changes were required from the team that lost at Reading six days earlier, although whether five new faces to the starting line-up was the answer is debatable.

More pertinently, though, one of the strangest decisions was to ask left-footed N'Zogbia to spend much of the game on the right and ditto James Milner on the opposite side.

For both young wingers to reach their full potential they need to be afforded their preferred roles and that is something which should be addressed ahead of the trip to Sunderland on Saturday.

"We can't carry on defending like that and our defensive frailty away from home has crept in," said Allardyce. "I am devastated by what has happened. I am gutted inside. What I put out there is an extension of me, it is what I am.

"The players have to emulate that and be organised, understand how to play and keep shape and discipline. They have to make sure they help their mate out if he makes a mistake. Unfortunately that didn't happen. We lost all our shape and discipline and organisation. We chased lost causes."

That may have been true, as Portsmouth's midfield was a picture of composure and that frustrated Newcastle throughout.

Sean Davis broke things up while John Utaka, Niko Kranjcar, Bouba Diop and Sulley Muntari all buzzed around creating havoc for Nicky Butt and his team-mates.

Even so, there was a dearth of good goalscoring opportunities until Newcastle went three up front just before the hour mark, when they introduced Obafemi Martins.

But even the fans' favourite struggled to have an impact and most things that did arrive David James' way were thwarted.

The best chance for Newcastle to reduce the deficit came when Alan Smith - who did little to justify his selection ahead of Martins up front - turned just yards out and shot straight at James.

And shortly after Portsmouth wrapped things up. Kranjcar's dangerous free-kick from the left touch line should still not have troubled Harper.

But Taylor's attempted clearance shaved his foot before finding its way beyond a clearly frustrated Harper.

Martins and Owen both had decent chances towards the end but James was equal to both and Allardyce's summing up of proceedings was about right.

"Portsmouth's win was down to Newcastle United gifting them the game and not down to their ability to win the game - apart from one stunning goal," he said.

Whether Newcastle's fans will accept a similar explanation if the result is not favourable at the Stadium of Light this weekend is an easy one. Probably not.