First of all, let me pose a question. Who's idea was it to re-schedule this match for a 7:45pm KO on Jan 2nd? A bit daft if you ask me. How many Toon fans would make the journey by public transport as opposed to private cars and coaches? And do coach companies not work on NYD? If so, I can only presume there was a convoy of trac'ors on the M1 and A1(M) on Monday.

I set off from Toon at 01:00pm and the traffic on the A1(M) was pretty bad, especially where it goes from 3 to 2 lanes. A nifty bit of nabigation from Ciara allowed us to save 20 mins or so. An accident south of Leeds caused another delay, but appropriate use of the slip road allowed us to bypass the blockage. The area near Notting-ham and Ley-cester were pretty slow too, but the pretty rainbow made Ciara's day. Further congestion from Watford Gap south (anybody know why it's caaled Watford Gap??) meant we only got to Cheshunt by 06:30pm. But there's a great train service from Cheshunt - £2:80 or thereaboots for a non-stop return to Northumberland Park and a 25 yd walk into the pub for a quick pre-match bottle o' Dog.

This was my first visit to WHL, and my first impressions from the ootside was of an office complex rather than a football stadium. No doubt influenced by the late Alan Sugar. Inside was quite impressive, tho not big enough. Well, not big enough for NUFC, but clearly enough capacity for THFC who couldn't seel aal theor tickets. I like the video screens, but this caused me to miss their equaliser as I was watching the replay of the action and missed the resultant corner :-( I think wor defence was doing the same.

I thoght we gave as much as we got in the early exchanges, and took a deserved lead. But why oh why do we seem to lose concentration when going a goal up away? Every bugger else must know this and they simply pile on the pressure, knowing we will let one, two or even three in (cudda been 4!) soon after. Bah.

Anyway, what followed was better suited for the Whitehall Theatre than a football stadium. It was pure farce. Having decided not to watch the video screen, it was a bit difficult to make a total judgement about the penalties as they all occured at the far end from us. But Speed's (?) challenge on Anderton was inoccuous. Of course, it's hardly surprising that such a frail body as Dazza should collapse under the pressure of a gust of wind caused by GS's pace, but it really did look as bad, if not worse a decision as the ManUre pen on Saturday.

We were clearly rocking by this stage, and under severe pressure. Again, too hard for me to say whether Nobby did a hand-to-baal or t'other way roond, but it was a failry reactionary thing as you try to stop the baal on the line. Anyway, he's a nice lad and I'm sure he didn't mean it. Stevie made a crackin' save, the baal aalmost rebounding oot fer a hoy in.

But still the pressure mounted and even the Toon Army were a bit subdued. One even took to sitting down with heed 'n' hands. (And I thought it was only Bake who we met from the BBS!). THe 3rd was sloppy. Rebrov was given far too much space, but he took it brilliantly and there was nowt Stevie could do to stop it. It felt like floods!

In all honesty, at this satgem we were staring down the barrel of a gun, and it wouldn't have surprised me if we had collapsed totally and made the Highbury result look a close one. But we held oot 'til halftime and we had a chance to sit doon for 10 mins or so.

All hell let loose right after halftime. From a quick break from defence )how often do we see that? Answers on a pinhead to screacher@genie.co.uk please) saw the ball at LKD's feet. Another pacey run saw him pulled down visciously - well, from my vantage point it was ;-) - and he picked himself up, dusted himself down, and sent Walker completely the wrong way. 10-10, game on. I honestly believe Spurs were rocking at this point and the Toon Army were in full battle cry. Than LKD was again visciously hacked down, only for the ref and linesman (funny, he was the one who didn't run the line in wor corner) conspired to see nowt wrong. Bas'ar's. LKD was not a happy man, and what followed, tho' totally un-professional, was also understandable. If only he'd learned to count to ten whan he was at school. This for me was the turning point. With 10 men, even against 11, you can still retain some shape. But with only 9, everybody is covering the empty spaces and it was no surprise that we went further behind to a stooping (not towering as described elsewhere) header from Sir Les. Again, a bad goal to give away as there was far to much space behind Barton (methinks - not Goma?).

But still, we would not lie down, and we made more chances, with Walker making some great (for him anyway) saves. Spurred (?) on by the Toon Army, we gave our all, but sadly, it wasn't enough to beat the combined forces of THFC and two bent orrificials. Well, perhaps "bent" is a bit strong - what they get up to in their spare time is nowt to do wi me, but I can't spell incompetant.

More than the dubious penalties and LKD's sending off, there were other decisions given for both sides which defied belief. On reflection, their 4th should either have been a goal, of a yellow card for Goma. IMO (not humble), Goma made a fair challenge and got the ball. OK, he may have come from the back/side (ooh, er missus), but he definitely played the ball. No foul in my eyes, but the ref gave it. So if he gave a foul, for what could only have been deemed a dangerous tackle, then why didn't Goma get a yelli? Dare I suggest that the ref thought he'd f***ed it up too many times previously and took the easy option? At that stage, we were still on for a point, but the free kick, and appalling marking of Sir Les (he's only an owd man, nee threat lyuk) wrapped up all three points for Spurs.

Anyway, a 15 min walk to the station and a 10 min ride got us back to Cheshunt and we hit the M1 at 10:30pm. Four hours later (allegedly!) I pulled up on the pavement in Blyth, after a detour thru Jesmond. Maybe my watch was wrong. But my eyesight wasn't. Bah, humbug.

I can fully sympathise with YBR. He must have been a tad p155ed off with the ref/flagman without LKD's little outburst. Just whet you need when your top two strikers are aalready unavailable.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Answers

That's what ya get for taking a yank to a football match :-)

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Hope there's no coppers on here Screacher, it normally takes me about four hours to get to Newcastle from Northampton, so i've got a head start on you!

Watford Gap services are so called becuase there is a village nearby named Watford Gap. Don't ask me why the village is called Watford Gap, that's another question!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Wash yer gob oot LR. Oh, sorry, I see you said taking a yank. Anyway, I'm reliably informed it was a sah-cur match and not football. More like a f'in farce to me.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I accompanied a charming "yank" back to Liverpool Street - one of the US Mags. The tale of how his parents met (one is from Jesmond and the other from Gateshead) was wonderful and bore testimony to the old song "wherever you go, you're sure to meet a Geordie".

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I think I must have misread my watch. Probably still on Taggart time from Saturday. ;-))

Memo to self: remember to re-set the trip computer in car when going home tonight.

So why's the little village called Watford Gap?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

We also discovered that Watford Gap was the last chance at hot food that late at night. Was rather surprised to find the fast food places shut down before midnight further along. Ahh the joys of roadside eating. And frightening that you find the same choices in any country. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I hate WHL - the jumbotron screens are there along with the chorus of "Glory,Glory" to compensate for the ground and the crowd being otherwise without character of any sort. I also hate Tottenham the area (partly cos I once had an operation at a hospital just off Seven Sisters Road and partly because it is miles from civilisation).

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

WHL seems another 'Manufactured Atmosphere' ground like Pride Park and the Riverside. However bad we may think St James has become it is never so bad that we would resort to such tasteless methods.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

The atmosphere was shit. But as for a stadium, I thought it was OK. Dodgy area, I agree. Anywhere that would let Dougal in for surgery must be deemed to be in a doubtful place ;-)

I liked the video screens but hated the naff matrix displays that they need to tell the crowd that a goal has been scored. Hardly surprising tho - their audio senses are hardly likely to be disturbed, so the need for visual stimulation is understandable. The over-cranked PA system clearly has low bass tones which would tend to shake them from their slumbers.

Still researching the "Watford Gap village" question DB? Wanna phone a friend? This audience seems to have little to offer.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I'll take the cheque Chris, I've had a lovely night and that one's a bit much to take on.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

"Sorry DB, you are the weakest link. Now f*ck off." Oops, slipped into LKD mode instead of CT. Sorry. Your cheque's in the post (allegedly).

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Oi Anne 'Screacher' Robinson, I thought the other fella should have been voted out you Ginga Winker!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Can't disagree Deb. But how did you know the true colour of my hair? Not been at those biscuits, have you? BTW - when ye gettin' yer @rse up here for a few bevvies in the Straabeery? Even LR has managed that so it can't be that difficult.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Dougal

>>>>I also hate Tottenham the area ... partly because it is miles from civilisation.

About 300 miles Dougal? Screach should know - he drove them all last night.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I don't get up to the Promise Land to see the folks often enough. I was up for the game against Leeds but I decided to take the better half to the game and wanted to shield her from you lot!

Only joking, I had enough time to get to the match take in the whole place then get back for dinner with guests arriving, so a trip to the Strawberry was not on the cards. I sat for over an hour taking the whole atmosphere in before kick off, like gold dust (Not sand and glitter!) as it was one of the rare times I was able to savour it all.

I'll be there one day in the near future.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Okay just wired into 5 live for match ,read the reports on here and would like to make a few observations. (1) I did think Bobby would refresh the team a little bearing in mind recent matches played. (2) If he as suggested played 3 at the back - why ?, Newcastle have a mental block on this formation and more importantly do not have the type of players to work it, keeping a clean sheet and discipline with a back four needs all their attention. (3) No doubting their true grit in adversity, I mentioned on another thread the need for a wee bit o luck , 2 most influential players off, jeez that is so unlucky, (4) Macbeth comments on it, you all know, Bobby knows , Brooky regales about vulnernability to set pieces and lack of height at the back ,its an ongoing moan, and sorry for all you Peacock fans who rated him dominant, he was the only 6`odd ch who could jump 5`6", doubled over, Barton-Hughes-Goma-Griffin -v- P Neville-G Neville-Brown - Irwin ***Toon Statto for heights ****LR for heights. ********** Another point not discussed, when Glass was brought on too late and correct me if I am wrong, but to fill in for Griffin why did GG who had 10-9 bring on a defender Luke Young to man mark the Left side as it appeared they were concerned, aka Saf on Saturday, thats YBR job.

Lets not be too hard on Dyer, in my book reacting to a bad decision haring over to a official, maybe is not professional, but to me shows passion for himself, team and fans , he will remembered as not being availible when Barton led the remaining players over to applaud the fans, What`s the use of clapping the Toon Army - we ken we are good.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Buff - the roar for the last 15 minutes was like nothing you've ever heard. I've lost me voice and gone stone deef - we deserved some applause. I can only re-iterate my view that wee Aaron Hughes is by far and away our best player at the moment.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

While the decision to go to a 3-5-2 looks a bad one because of the goals conceded. Rebrov was playing a withdrawn role and Spurs had no real width pushing back Griffin and Barton. 3 centre backs should have been able to perform comfortably against what was up against them.

Hughes and Goma marking Rebrov and Ferdinand and Barton being the spare man. Spurs were playing 3-5-2 so we matched them so as to not get over-run in midfield, Griffin going to left wing back, Solano to RWB.

It makes sense on paper and I can see why Bobby did it but as you point out Buff the players don't really seem capable of making the tactical adjustments needed on the pitch.

With regard to the frailties at set pieces, could it be that for the first time in living memory we actually missed Marcellino who in the recent games I have seen has been impressive in the air. Hey at least he hasn't handed in a transfer request!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Now I've had time to calm down here's my tuppenceworth: WE WE'RE BLOODY UNLUCKY! Tottenham got all the breaks last night, even my normally piss-taking Spurs supporting mates admitted as much after the game. The spirit we've shown in the past three games bodes well for the rest of the season. We'll finish above those dirty mackem gets - you read it here first.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Like the venerable Buff I too was 'wired in' to 5-live (though the reception was none-too-good). Trevor 'my old club West Ham' Brooking was praising the crossing ability of Solano when he made a (ahem) passing reference to him hassling the club for more money. Anyone know anything about this, or when Nol's contract is up?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Anderton looked embarassed when he walked across to take the 1st penalty (on highlights)

Brooking even slagged the ref off & apparently the linesman was laughing as he waved play on when LKD lost his head. If that's on one of the cameras then he shouldn't line a match again - still no excuse but you can understand.

We wuz robbed.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Little left to say really after that stunning match report from Screach. Except that the refereeing was laughable. The three officials were so bad it was beyond belief, even the decisions that went our way were usually wrong. Have to agree with Screach about the fourth goal for Spurs. Goma clearly took the ball and it was never a free Kick, doesn't excuse the marking though, letting Les have a free header was bad enough but he didn't have to jump, he just stooped and nodded the ball in from five yards.

Have to take exception with Dougal on our best player of the moment. Elvis Hughes is playing well but Solano is the shining star in the Toon universe.He was exceptional for the time he was on the pitch and has really stood up to be counted since Shearer has been out.

Still nice to meet Ciara, who I have never met before and some lovely pints of Guiness in the Victoria before the game meant the evening wasn't completely frustrating

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001