The infielders looked at each other just before the ball thudded to earth, and it must have been a helpless feeling: there was nothing to do but pick up the cheap single as Damon scored the second run.
The wheel initially bounced past several startled mechanics in the Ferrari, Lotus and Mercedes pit crews before thudding into an unaware Allen.
Gary Harkins strode forward from his own half, nutmegging an opponent as he went, before thudding the upright from 20 yards.
Reds captain Gerrard struck the post with a trademark long-range drive that dipped and swerved before thudding against Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel's right-hand post.
A wild lunge fortunately didn't fully connect with the Barcelona forward – had it done so he could have been seriously injured – but it still sent him tumbling into the air before thudding into the Bernabéu turf.
They had another go when Lionel Ainsworth fizzed a shot at Craig Samson before McManus thudded home a header from Conor Grant's corner.
Pablo Zabaleta had already had his head bandaged after a collision with Yannick Bolasie – "Yala had over 10 stitches," said Pardew – before he thudded into a challenge with Wilfried Zaha and was carried off on a stretcher.
The silver pole shrinks to a lollipop stick in his giant hand, his blue gym bag thuds to the floor.
A heavy wardrobe thudded on to the floor beside me.
