Back four Given great inspiration.

Byline: John Gibson Regional sportswriter of the year

IT WAS the 453rd time Shay Given has stepped on to the battlefield as Newcastle United's custodian - and not the first he has returned a hero.

To block out the Premier League favourites Chelsea for an hour and a half to confirm the unlikeliest of draws amid a black season was glory indeed.

Shay was immense, a defiant figure all arms and legs and true grit, but then those around him put in a full shift as well.

United's defence has often been a joke - a nasty one - but sharp-shooters like Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Deco and Florent Malouda couldn't find a hole in the Newcastle dam.

Given has now clawed himself to within four games of Frank Clark's 457 appearance total as he heads ever closer to the all-time record 496 of Jimmy Lawrence that has stood since way, way back in 1922.

That alone tells you the man is consistent, even if all the Newcastle teams he has played in have not been.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was right to trumpet Given's ability as a shot-stopper, but naughty to try and flog him to a club in his native Italy.

Stay and be a record-breaker, Shay!

I said in my Friday preview if United wanted encouragement then it was that Chelsea aren't as potent at home as away under Big Phil.

And I suggested that if Joe Kinnear could repeat his favourite scoreline - he's produced three 2-2 draws - then it would be "glorious".

Well, not often is a 0-0 scoreline hailed as glorious, but for the Toon Army this one most certainly was.

Coming after successive shockers against Fulham and Wigan, the relief was audible.

Chelsea had slaughtered both Sunderland and Middlesbrough 5-0, but there was no chance of completing a North East hat-trick with Shay standing as tall as Grey's Monument, and colleagues in front of him responding to the confidence he produced.

Central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Sebastien Bassong were immense, a pairing to give hope.

Bassong has had to be patient, but with Steven Taylor injured and Claudio Cacapa too weak for Premier League aggression, he has staked a considerable claim.

Mind you, all did their jobs. Team defending is not exclusive to keeper and back four, and here United's second bank of four in midfield didn't object to getting their knees dirty.

Chelsea tried to play through United's packed masses instead of getting round the back and, as such, were predictable. A lot of possession means not a jot if goals don't follow.

Former Spurs striker Paul Walsh criticised Newcastle on Sky Sports News for getting so many men behind the ball and not being more adventurous, but I wonder what he wanted from a relegation-threatened side playing away to the leaders.

The Mags to be gung ho and be severely smacked like Sunderland and Boro?

JFK may be repeatedly dismissed as little more than a joker parachuted in to lift spirits, but his record encourages more than faint praise considering what had gone before.

He has lost only two of eight Premier League matches - two victories, four draws and two reverses is respectable for a side at the wrong end of the table.

This was the first failure of a Kinnear side to score, but what the heck!

Chelsea retained their terrific defensive record - only four conceded in the PL and, believe it or not, never ever conceding a goal in the second half of matches - but for a team top of the league this must have tasted like a defeat.

United are a curious side indeed. Beaten by Hull, West Ham, Fulham and Sunderland they have travelled to both Manchester United and Chelsea and secured an unbelievable draw.

However, that has always been in their nature.

I once went to non-league Hereford and watched in disbelief as Newcastle lost an FA Cup tie - and a week later was at Old Trafford to watch in equal disbelief as Manchester United were beaten 2-0.

CAPTION(S):

STANDING FIRM: United's Jose Enrique and Shay Given