Just a quickie - my first visit to new SJP, best seats in hoose for best game for ages. Bad ref decisions seemed to fire us up, good battling in midfield, no-one bottled, not one poor perf. Diff opinions about MOTM, I'd say Acuna, went for everything, Barton not far behind, Dyer ran socks and shoes off. Amoebi v slow and lacking confidence, but worked hard and looks better bet than Cordone/LLL at the moment. Leeds looked like they expected to win and got turned over, prob like us at Derby the other day. Interesting how well we did with no Shearer/Lee - more movement up front. That said, if we'd had a 'real' striker we might have had three or four today. V encouraging all round, but we know these same players are capable of shite performances. Consistency needed now...

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2000

Answers

cheers, agreed about MOTM, I feel it goes to Solano though, he scored a beaut and he set up Acuna's... but one major thing comes from this more match... experience for Marcellino,Acuna and Bassedas. All got stuck in today, showed some mettle. Dyer was brill as usual, but we need more of a killer instinct from him, if not he could always be a "support" striker instead of a finisher.

Solid performance today, good enough to live off of for the moment. Obviously YBR rallied on not having Big Al, and it paid dividends, can't see that working against Manure, so if we can get away with a point I'd be extremely pleased. As you say the important thing here is consistency, and we have yet to show any.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2000

I'll post more tomorrow, but a very satisfying win with a weakened team that fought like tigers - particularly the much-maligned South Americans. Just what the doctor ordered for Big Al.

Credit due to them all today, but especially young Ameobi who caused all sorts of problems for Ferdinand and Woodgate, but most of all to Kieron Dyer who I thought was just different class today. Make sure you catch it on MOTD.
Great stuff Lads - well done.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2000

Yipee!

Best Christmass present I got.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2000

Back to work, it must be Wednesday. Excellent game yesterday, despite my initial fears. I thought Acuna was quite outstanding and like everyboy else he got stuck in and that was the difference. Previously one or five have lacked the bottle to turn a game, but even after they scored I felt that we weren't going to lose. Being a critic of Dyer I am more than happy with the way he performed. He really looked up for it. I thought that Shola looked good, even if he looks like moving in slow motion. He made Ferdinand and co. look poor, but can't see that happening against Stam. I thought we made them look very ordinary. My only doubt would be that the powers that be (FS) may now consider that we really don't need anyone extra. I think this would be slightly short sighted,but something that we have done in the past. Even if we play like that against manure it doesn't guarantee the same result. As a one off it was excellent, but we can hardly expect that every week unless Freddie opens his wallet. It being Xmas, I will refrain from passing comment on the worse referee I've seen this season. Shite does not fully explain the ineptness of his 'performance'. On another day he may have cost us the match, its to the lads credit that they kicked on from the Leeds goal and desrved to win by more. Happy, shining person today.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2000

Softie - did you take a stottie to the Leeds game? I only ask cos otherwise i'll put the win down in a new superstition column: BBS power.

what was it like in the Strawberry lads and lasses?

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2000

Nee Stotties seen in The Straabeery, Min but he might a' had them up 'is ganzie. Atmos was canny - probably more packed than usual.

As for the game, at last I saw what I've been looking for for a long time - some determination. We were simply outrun in midfield at Highbury. Yesterday was different, especially in the 2nd half when we were obviously up for it. For once, we didn't let a setback pull us down and the heads never dropped. We also looked pretty comfortable in the second half when we held on to w slender lead. The only momoent of concern was when they hit the post and the ball rolled ever-so-slowly along the line and past the other post. However, on balance, we fully deserved the win and it would have been an injustice had they scored. Let's hope the same "spirit" is around on Saturday too, and the following Tuesday.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2000

I only saw the MOTD highlights but It seemed Marcellino actually looked up for it, can this be true? Are we writing him off too soon?

I for one have been impressed by Acuna in recent matches but Solano & Dyer really looked the part yesterday.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2000

One ingredient in this victory which someone who went could probably confirm or deny: Barton as captain. I've not heard much about his performance but it might just be his leadership which spurred us on to victory. Perhaps, in the past, he's felt overshadowed by the recognised 'quality' of Lee and Shearer but cometh the hour, cometh the man and as captain, he's managed to instill the importance, the need for hunger, the passion that's required to win.

anyone?

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

OOOOh that's pretty articulate min, did you cut and paste that from the Guardian?? ;-))

Maybe you have a point.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

I was well impressed with everyone, especially the three south Americans and Marcelino, and Dyer, oh and Griff,Hughes and Barton who captained the side really well oh and Speed, And I reckon Harper is better than Given Best home game of the year i'd say

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

TM - cheeky get. How are you and the missus doing? how was Christmas? I'm coming ower around March.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

There's an excellent match report on thegallowgate.com's fan forum if anyone's intersted.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2000