Or so it would seem from his post-match comments:

"I think we've played the best team that's been at St James' Park this season, so it's a massive three points," said Robson.

"I can't take any credit away from our players, who have given a very true, fighting performance.

"You could say we rode our luck, you could say Shay Given played very well and made saves - but that's what we pay him for (as well as his Irish folk singing).

"I don't complain about a lucky three points because we lost here against the filthy Makcems when I didn't think we should have done.

"We lost here against Charlton when I didn't think we should have done and we lost here against Everton when I didn't think we should have done. In fact, I never think we should lose.

"We've beaten the best team here and lost to teams who I don't think are as good. I just can't work football out at the moment. When I do, I'm going to retire.

"It's just a gigantic three points for us after the Filthy Mackems. We didn't play yesterday and dropped six places. It's just nice for us to be back in the top half of the league."

Aye Bobby, it's a funny old game!

However, Robson's delight was tempered by the news that skipper Alan Shearer, who missed training last week with a back injury, is a major doubt for Wednesday night's Worthington Cup trip to Birmingham after aggravating the problem.

Don't let him play. Give the youngun's a chance. He'll only miss a penalty if he plays.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Answers

Did he really say 'Filthy Mackems'? If so the the man is even more of a God than previously imagined!!!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Ooh - I dunno. Even if he didn't, I'm sure he meant to!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

He's far too much of a gentleman to use such a phrase Andy. He actually referred to our country cousins by the generic term, "knuckle-draggers".

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

The maKems are filthy, it's official. Apparently according to the matchday program today, there were reports of the throwing coins and rubbish (but not themselves) over the balcony onto the toon fans below, Worst of all though was the fact that they were spiting on thedecent geordies beneath them. It wasn't till the second half till the one at the front of the balcony were relocated in the seats set aside for segragation. Only three were evicted for spitting mind you.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

country cousins. A bit generous with the letters there, Mr Clark ;-)) o-r-y-c-o-u-s-i-n weren't needed.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

I'm rather surprised more than one or two out of three thousand of the primates were capable of stringing together the multitude of sequential brain impulses needed to coordinate the various facial muscles into a coordinated 'gobbing' action.
I'll bet their laps were a total mess by the end of the game.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Funny - no mention of licking each others' @rsenals. I'm glad I wasn't there last week. My usual seat is right below the away section. I anticipated "additional precipitation" and had I been there, anorak hood and crash helmet would have been the order of the day.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Just read the program again and Newcastle United reply to the letter saying that 80 police and 40 stewards were in the away section and the front row was moved at half time because of the spitting and debris being thrown at the newcastle fans beneath them. As well as three being thrown out for spitting two more were evicted for throwing coins.

because of this , next season Sunderland won't be given the balcony area which I take to meaning the six or seven rows at the front of level seven. Less seats for the makems next season then. Serves them right the dorty bastards.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

I loathe the makkems, but is anybody naive enough to believe that given the opportunity, we don't have a proportion of neanderthals who won't try a tit for tat approach at the sos ?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000