THEY gathered in their thousands outside St James’ Park last night, as they had done before the match, and will doubtless continue to do for as long as this farce is allowed to go on.

If the rising tide of opposition to his ownership wasn’t bad enough for Mike Ashley, along comes a home defeat by newly promoted Hull City to turn his worst nightmare into reality.

A goal in each half by Marlon King, a red card for Danny Guthrie, whose scything tackle in the closing stages reflected the frustration of all around him, and Newcastle were again a club in chaos. This was the last thing Ashley needed in response to the protests since the departure of Kevin Keegan 10 days ago.

Yet a return by the Messiah must be the only way Ashley can survive the bile coming his way, although it would require the dismissal of Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez, the executive directors he appointed. Those are the men Keegan cannot work with, not Ashley.

The owner met his former manager on Friday night, prompting speculation that a third coming; or is it fourth?; was imminent. Although there was no reconciliation, the feeling is that talks may yet resume. If this was a PR stunt to appease the furious fans, it didn’t have the desired effect. They bit their lips during the match, but made their feelings clear before and afterwards. Shearer’s bar was buzzing, but the club shop next door was empty, victim of a boycott. The burger vans did a roaring trade, as punters opted out of buying refreshments in the stadium.

With every respect to Hull, this was not about them, or even the match. In one surreal moment early in the second half, the entire crowd seemed to be on its feet, watching the progress round the ground of a banner that read: “Cockney Mafia out!” When it passed in front of the padded seats, where managing director Derek Llambias was sitting, there was a roar of appreciation.

The saddest aspect of this latest episode in the club’s dramatic history is that an opportunity has been lost. Ashley came to Newcastle with the kind of sensible business plan they had been crying out for. His crime has been to botch the execution. He picked the last manager on earth likely to appreciate his frugal strategy, undermined him with his boardroom appointments and finds the club again at the mercy of its supporters’ base instincts. “Fat greedy bastard,” they chanted, as though the only answer to this club’s lifelong crisis was a few more pounds.

It was Newcastle’s first match since Keegan resigned, but he seemed to be there in spirit. Apart from the kick-off being conducted amid a cacophonous rendition of Keegan Wonderland, it was almost as though the team was tipping its hat to the departed one. Michael Owen played in the withdrawn position identified for him by Keegan towards the end of last season, and was influential. As well as providing an intelligent link between midfield and attack, he was a demonstrative presence on a day when a strong captain was called for.

Hull took the lead after Peter Halmosi dashed into the channel and Nicky Butt brought him down. Shay Given almost saved the penalty, but King’s connection was crisp and powerful enough to carry the ball over the line.

Newcastle’s supporters had vowed not to vent their frustrations on the team and were as good as their word, even after the setback. What they didn’t expect was the loss of another goal nine minutes into the second half. Pressing forward for an equaliser, the home side left itself exposed at the back, where King took full advantage. After stepping inside full-back Charles N’Zogbia, he curled a delicious left-footer into the far corner.

There was one last straw to grasp at. Nine minutes from the end, Xisco bundled in a loose ball after N’Zogbia’s shot had struck a post, but the flurry of activity it provoked culminated only in Guthrie’s foul on Craig Fagan. “Emotions were running a bit high,” said Newcastle’s caretaker manager, Chris Hughton, with a neat line in understatement.