I imagine it must have been quite daunting having Bobby in the stand running the rule over you!

Concentrating on the Scunthorpe game was not a problem but everything over the last week appears to have been connected with our match at Newcastle.

Bobby Robson was sitting in the stands on Tuesday and then after a day off on Wednesday, the Sky cameras were down at the training ground to check us out.

As you can imagine, everyone tried that bit harder for the telly and made sure they didn't mess their hair up whenever they went in for a tackle. The reporter did a few interviews with the boys but I was custard-pied - he didn't want to know, so my 15 minutes of fame will have to wait.

That day we were all asked how many tickets we wanted for the trip to St. James'. Most of the lads wanted four or five, I wanted 26! In the end though I've had to settle for only a couple.

It's a shame that my dad can't come up to watch me because of work so I'm even more determined to keep the tie alive for the second leg when he will be there.

Keeping the Magpies out of our minds was easy on Friday because we had the tricky task of Kidderminster away the next day, and although we lost that match, I think it will work in our favour.

We were 1-0 up and cruising but let in two soft goals from set pieces. That has obviously alerted us to a weakness and we've been practicing ever since.

Let's hope we can keep Mr. Shearer and co. quiet when the corners and free-kicks start flying into the box.

With a game like this coming up you have to stay positive and so we haven't let our recent iffy results knock our confidence.

What we have learned from the Kidderminster game is that set-pieces aside, we were very sound at the back throughout and didn't give them a chance in open play. And against Scunthorpe we completely dominated but just couldn't nick the win.

Now I'm not saying I expect too much from the Worthington Cup game, but we go into it with our hopes high of doing ourselves justice. If we can keep them down to one or two then it will make for a fascinating return at Brisbane Road. Stevenage Borough gave them a fright a couple of years back so why can't we?

The thought of playing in front of 40,000 makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, it will be an even bigger crowd than the one we entertained at Wembley in the play-offs so the atmosphere will be highly charged.

This is our chance to show what we're all capable of and I for one can't wait to get up to the north east.

If we can come off after 90 minutes with their fans applauding us then I know we would have done something right.

MATT LOCKWOOD was talking to FRANK PRAVERMAN

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

Answers

That's quite touching... Off to Newcastle noooo. See youse later

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

"If we can come off after 90 minutes with their fans applauding us then I know we would have done something right"

So long as they don't crock Wor Al then I reckon we're gracious enough to do just that.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

Sounds like a good solid professional and not overwaed at all , bet he has a canny game . Im almost feeling sorry for them already , and actually i have to admit to the O's being the one team i follow down here . A very close mate of mine Dominic Ludden (now at Preston ) played left back for them for 3 years , and i watched him maybe 25 times at Brisbane road , and even followed them to Blackpool one match which was akin to watching the Mags playing in Plymouth , ie me sitting there wondering why the hell i was there . I hope they do well but not too well these journeymen professional lads will get a big kick out of this game im sure as its their chance to really show some managers what they are made of . Actually forget all that sentimental clap trap , i hope we stuff right up their cockney @rses : - ))

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

Have to admit to a following their results for a few years...

Frank Clark knows my father...

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

Barry Hearn heeping praise on YBR now!!

Robson's visit to Brisbane Road earning him the prasie of the Division Three club's chairman Barry Hearn.

"He came to watch us play the other week and after the match spent ages chatting to some of our trainees away from the glare of publicity," revealed Hearn.

"The young kids were made up by that and it really summed up the man and what he stands for.

"We are going to Newcastle to win. I am not saying that we will win, but we will give it our best shot."

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

Is this turning out to what journos might call a "Feelgood Fixture"?

What a world away from the St***nage debacle. Although a certain Victor Green may have had more than a hand in that mess...the c**t.

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000

I don't suppose we should have expected anything else with Bobby around!

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000