There's almost 48,000 packed into St James' Park for this one. But don't worry... if it stays 0-0, the chip butties are on John Carver.

Image source, AP

Sorry Jay, but the players have resurfaced. Off we go.

Jay: I don't think anyone would notice if the teams fail to come out after half-time.

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I should also point you in the direction of an excellent feature on Gareth Bale. He's facing his first crisis since that mega-money move. Among the criticisms levelled at him are that he is a "defensive disaster", "irrelevant" and "listless". Ouch. Read more here.

During that pretty uninspiring first half, Mario Balotelli will have made around £280 from just sitting at home and watching it on the box. Makes you think doesn't it... check out our excellent football wages calculator here. And try not to get too upset.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis: "We started the game as if it was a Sunday morning game but the goal before half-time gave us the lift we needed.

"They took the ball off us on numerous occasions and in dangerous areas, but the character of the players in the second half (brought it back level).

"This is going to be a tough job, I knew it was going to be tough. I knew what I was coming in to.

"Without a question of doubt we need to get results, and you need to have the players together and playing as hard as we did in the second half and full credit to them."

Image source, AFP

Burnley boss Sean Dyche: "We've been outsized in a lot of games this season. You can see the size of some of these teams so we pride ourselves on the organisation and we have to use that wisely - and we have done for most of the season.

"We've been punished today. Our honesty has hurt us today. Dave Jones is as honest as the day's long and he has an elbow in the back [for the corner from which Brown Ideye scored West Brom's equaliser], he doesn't go down like many do, they get a free header."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche on striker Danny Ings, who scored one and made one for the Clarets against West Brom: "He was excellent again today. He's effervescent, his movement, his quality at times. He's growing into the league, he's understanding it better.

"He's a fine talent, there's no two ways about it and I can see why there's certain people in the media asking about England call-ups, not necessarily to start but in the squad and you can see why.

"He's a tremendous talent and we're delighted we stuck to our word and he's still a Burnley player."

What about it - should Roy Hodgson give Danny Ings a go?

Image source, Reuters

Former Newcastle & Stoke defender Andy Griffin
BBC Radio Stoke at St James' Park

"There hasn't been an awful lot happen to get us out of our seats. Could Mame Diouf have done a bit better with his header? Probably not, you have to give credit to Tim Krul who made a great save ( see 45+2 mins), and likewise Asmir Begovic, who saved from Remy Cabella (see 11 mins). Apart from those two chances there hasn't been much to talk about."

Alistair Mann
BBC MOTD commentator at St James' Park

"Newcastle had had the best chances of the first half but then on the stroke of half-time Stoke forward Mame Biram Diouf had a header well saved by Tim Krul."

Charlie Fee: This match again showing how desperately Newcastle need a big centre-forward.

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Just when it was getting good, the half-time whistle goes.

Former Newcastle & Stoke defender Andy Griffin
BBC Radio Stoke at St James' Park

"Mame Diouf with the best chance of the game so far and I thought it was in. How Tim Krul has managed to save that I will never know."

Image source, Getty Images

When we have had flashes of brilliance in this game, it's been from the two goalkeepers - Tim Krul making a fine save this time to deny Mame Diouf's header from eight yards out. Good ball in from Stephen Ireland too.

Image source, Empics

In defence of the two teams, there does seem to be a lot of whistle-blowing the moment two players come into contact with each other. The referee, Kevin Friend, could let the game flow a little better.

Three minutes of stoppage time to go. Sorry.

Former Newcastle & Stoke defender Andy Griffin
BBC Radio Stoke at St James' Park

"That could have been costly for Stoke. Marc Wilson got dragged out of position and there was a huge gap for Ayoze Perez to run into. Perez was unlucky with his strike."

When all seems lost, Remy Cabella spins his marker and plays a fine ball through to Ayoze Perez but the young striker's low shot rolls just wide of the far post. Almost.

If you'd paid to watch this at the cinema, you'd be heading for the bowling alley now. Turgid stuff.

Safe to say there has been little excitement so far, except on the Sunday dinner front (see 30 mins)...

SMC: What's for Sunday dinner? Fresh Magpies in newly-glazed pottery!

Josh Hammond: Glorious bowl of corn flakes and a glass of coke for my lunch.

Zac: This game has 0-0 written all over it.

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