Well it's 3:50pm - still over an hour and a half to go, and I'm already as nervous as a kitten. God, I wish I was going to be there - next to actually playing, you seem to have more control when you're there - watching on telly is sheer agony, but better than radio.

"OK boys, this is THE big one. This has been a disappointing season for us, but think about our fans, they are the best, but for them it's been agony - losing at home to both the mackems and smoggies is next to contracting leprosy for them.
We owe them this one, so don't let them down again. Get out there and get among them; they'll kick anything that moves, but I don't want to see anyone flinching. Hit them hard when you get the chance, get stuck into them and make sure you win your personal battle, and only then play the football that you know is beyond them.
You ARE the better team, go out there and prove it. Wear those shirts with pride - do it for the fans. LET'S GO!!!"

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Answers

HAWAY THE LADS!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Ther was a great quote about BR from Peyter in the usual pre-match cr@p in The Journal this morning.

He said "I call him Bobby, he calls me Dave Watson!"

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Thank you for that rare upbeat message clarky. I'll be watching the match in Trillians, with my mate peter.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I haven't slept well in 2 nights. Listening to the Leeds webcast now, but it's torture waiting for our match to ko. Did manage the world's fastest grocery shopping trip between the end of the Manchester derby and the 3pm ko's. Just finishing up laundry now before I become completely useless in just under an hour. ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Anyone see the Manchester derby game?

Keane was sent off for an unbelievable knee-high tackle on Haaland. In real-time I thought I saw Haaland's leg break, but in slo-mo it seemed that he may have seen the boot coming just in time and was able to cushion the impact somewhat. However, if his leg had been planted firmly on the ground it would have snapped, no doubt about it.

This was the 4th time that "the loon" has been sent off by David Ellery, this time for GBH!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

It was an unforgiveable tackle.(:o|

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Okey dokey!!!! Now I`m starting to get really excited!!!!!

HOWAY THE LADS!!! (:O)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Wish I'd seen the match, though I definitely am glad I missed that horror tackle. I'm far too squeamish to see that kind of stuff. Gives me nightmares. Can't wait to see the highlights and see Howey scoring though. :-)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I'm just feeling sicker and sicker as it gets closer. I should be fine once we kick off. Maybe. These are the times when sitting alone at a computer becomes absolute torture! ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Afternoon all, bloody nervous wreck now!

Sat here, lap-top, infront of Sky with beers in the fridge...

HOOOOWWWWWAAAAAYYYYYY THE LADS!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Ooo, good! If you're able to type at all, give us some commentary. I've a bad feeling there will be problems with the webcast.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Highlights ok for you?

Only 1/2 hour to go till kick off!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Yes, LET'S GO! HOWAY THE LADS. This one is a clinical win, period.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Highlights are great! I'd be absolutely amazed if anyone could actually watch this one AND type away at the same time. All concentration towards the lads on the pitch. It's a team effort from all of us!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I'm singing already.

I've also emailed my vote of confidence to Fanzone on Sky. Anyone who's watching look out for the message from wonkey!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Rob Lee is OUT - didn't catch who replaces him.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Hang in there folks! This should be a real stomach churner. Think I shall open a bottle of wine..........oh-oh, it could mean trouble!! Will post when I can drag myself away from the telly!!(:o)

Looking for your vote of confidence now Wonkey!!!

HOWAY THE LADS!!!!!!!!!

(and lasses Ciara) (;o)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Evening all. Hope that everyones had a good start to derby day.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

If Lee is out I think Acuna will replace him.

Anymore team news yet?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

15 mins to go, I feel well sick!

HOOOWWWWWAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Hi Kegsy.

Everything is crossed, but I'm still wrecked at this point.

I'm gutted The General hasn't made it - could be a big miss. Speed has to really step forward today.

The Toon Army are in fantastic voice at the Flatpac.

Just heard it's Acuna replacing Lee.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

A good start is crucial. Barton and Speed need good games and neither have bottled big games before and this is as big as it gets.

COME ON

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Just folded and put away my laundry in world record time. Got rid of the sick feeling in my stomach. LETS GO LETS GO LETS GO!!!!!!

HOWAY THE LADS!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

SHIT! White shorts??!!! *whimper*

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Hello guys and girls...oooooohhhhh Warren Barton is Captain... COME ON LADS!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

We've as good as won the clapping portion of the match ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

OOOHHHHHH Speed just through 1 on 1 and put it over!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Newcastle started brightly, Speed went lose.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Keep it going, lads!! A match is 90min!! MINUTES. 90 of the little darlins!! ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

pcik up your freudian slip, Kegsy

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

close

Sorry, I'm having problems with my connection today, it takes about 1 minute to refresh the page

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Barton booked...for NOWT!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Evening all. Crackin start to the game but also having huge problems with refresh times. Can't see 22 players remaining after 90 mins!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

No problems with refresh but my computer crashed and took me nearly 10min to get back up. Oh my nerves!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

As I was about to post when the crash hit....

I get really nervous when we start off well, cause we inevitably slack off within 20-30min. Sounds like that may be the case.

FIGHT LADS!!!! FIGHT!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

My message has just been on Fanzone ubder my proper name.

"Howay Newcastle, time to pay back the Makems for the painful 2-1 defeat at St. James'"

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

WE WENT TO BLAYDON RACES, T'WAS ON THE NINTH OF JUNE EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO ON A SUMMER'S AFTERNOON...........

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

They seem to think that we have a weakness in Barton. Everthing going down his side. christ that was close!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Great save by Given...

HOOOWWWWAAAAYYYYY!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

so....lke, did everyone leave???????

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

argh. another crash while I went to the kitchen for tortilla chips

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I'm still here Pete, just getting slightly drunk

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

PHEW! Let off number 2...

Get a grip lads!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

oh my nerves! Thjome nearly scored

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

ooops...they just hit the bar. Are we hanging on till half time??, sure sounds like it.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

O'Brien nearly put it into their net. Pass me some of whatever you're drinking, Kegsy! These chips aren't doing it for me, stronger measure must be taken

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Lucky to be 0-0 at the moment. Lets get to half time and regroup

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I'm hearing too much of "Newcastle really should have done..." This is worrying. Just don't give anything away now!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

*whew* 0-0 at HT

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Half time reports please

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

H/t . Well we managed to keep a clean sheet......just.

As for scoring I can't see where it's going to come from. Nobby has gone AWOL. Dabs is having a stormer as is Given.

It's most important that we don't get a player sent off early in the second half. If we do it could be curtains.

We're making them look good!...W@nkers

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Hi all! Watching it on TV here+ im afraid the game dosent look too pretty for us :-( Were missing Lee badly in midfield. Though we are working hard +committed, the mackems just seem to be the stronger. I reckon well get into it more 2nd half. COME ON!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Sounded like they were all over us after the first ten minutes. I get the feeling we only want a point....here we go again.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Metro also saying Nobby has "gone back into his shell". :-(

At this moment, I'd happily take a point and clean sheet.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

YoooooooooHooooooooooooooooo

Given, Dabizas, Quinn O'brien playing well. Still having problems at set pieces at both ends. They had 3 waiting for the ball when Thome hit the post. Barton has only passed to another player once and that was from a throw in. He is getting passed by Arca, Grey and one of the stewards going to the toilet. He has just thumped everything long.

Solano might be playing I think I saw him take a corner. Acuna is being by passed in the middle of the park. Speed is getting stuck in but playing at the pace of Div 2. Bassedas I think has been passed the ball maybe 3 or 4 times. The fromt 2 have caused no problems for their defence.

We are not giving them the ball they way Lanky and Munch are getting it.

The ref has let a couple of tackles from behind early go unpunished. When Barton actually won the ball he was booked.

Cort was given offside early on when the replay shows he was onside.

Evening all I will be off now to see the second half.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Here we go.....Nerves and all.

When are we going to get a team together that fills me with confidence not dread when they take to the pitch.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Here we go, 2nd half!!! HOWAY LADS!!!! SHOW US YOU WANT THIS!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Dirty Don booked for an unconvincing Greg Louganis impression

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

No Penalty - thank f*** for that! Cheating Mackem bastard Hutchinson!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Corner...cmon Nobby.......

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Here's a novel idea...don't let Nobby take any more corner kicks.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Shay Given - MOTM

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Man of the Match - Shay Given!!! C'MON THE TOON!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Great minds think alike!!! HOWAY THE LADS!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Shay Given - Player of the year

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

:-))

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Shay Given - Master of the Universe!

COME ON NOW!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

TOON ARMY!! TOON ARMY!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

ALL HAIL SHAY GIVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet another brilliant save.....PHEW!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Always thought Speed was a bit 'thick' in the head. ;-))

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

hey, Gal...you and Yelli doing the tag team thing again? Worked for us on Monday...keep up the good work!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Griffin maybe coming on for Barton?? Oh pleaseOh pleaseOh please

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Or maybe for Solano???? Might make more sense since Nobby doesn't sound like he's doing much

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Bollocks

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

@#$%#^%$&^*%&^$^%$$##$@@#$#%$%$^%^&$%$#!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Cmon lads!!!! GET A GRIP WE CAN STILL SCORE!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Bollocks, Shit, F***!!!!

COME ON THE TOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

That's the problem Ciara...we can't.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

yes we can!! Be positive!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

....she says whilst kicking the cat

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Yup, tag team again!

I feel sick!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

We need subs. Who for who though?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Hmmm...Cordone, Ameobi and Griffin ready to come on

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Gallacher, Acuna, Solano off

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

O brian YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! OBRIEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

yesyesyesyesyeysyesyeysye O'Brien\!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

CMON NEWCASTLE!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GETTTTTTTTTT INNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOBBY ROBSON!!!!! BOBBY ROBSON!!!!! (:O))))))))

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

ANDY ANDY ANDY O'BRIEN...MY FECKIN HERO!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Now lets go out to WIN this one. GET AFTER THEM!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

10 mins + xt

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

No matter what else we do, DON'T LET THEM SCORE AGAIN!!!!! DEFEND!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CIARA, We can't defend

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Like youre reverse psychology, Pete. Worked before!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

4 mins + xt

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

1min plus stoppage....oooooooooooommmmmyyyyyynnnnneeeeerrrvvvvvveeessssssss

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

90 mins up = 3 mins

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

oh god 3min stoppage

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

hang on!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Giving silly fowls away!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

SAINT SHAY

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

OH TAHNK YOU!!! A point is fine with me. Barton does what he does best....leads the clapping ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

1-1 Well at least we had the balls to fit back!!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Frankly, I think that was shite.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

1-1 Full time score. Got to be happy with the way they came back and got th point. 5 points from the last three games. We finally have something to build on.

Well done lads and well done that man - O'Brien

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Better than another loss.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

or even fight back.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Whats that a chook raffle hiro?

We were lucky, lucky not to lose and unlucky not to win.

Why did Barton stay on? Why did Speed stay on? Why did Cordone come on? They were all KAK.

I think Bassedas' problem is that he thinks a half second faster than the others around him.

Speed and Barton were giving the ball away again. We had no effective corners and no effective free kicks. Our goal came from a scramble however we played a lot better in the second 45 mins. After their goal we played them off the park for the last 20 minutes, only looking sus when they broke.

Good night all

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Did anyone enjoy that?? Torture or what!!

Well done Dabs and Shay.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Anyone want a video?

I'm sure Hiro will hand deliver to the UK in 2 weeks!!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Well thank goodness that`s over! I really thought that we might have scrambled a second goal - certainly picked up in the second half, but boy did we look suspect in defence sometimes! Phew..I`ll take the point though!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend folks.(:o)

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I'll be shelling out the bucks for the ppv tomorrow and tape it. At least it should be a bit more relaxing watching it already knowing the result. I don't think I took a breath in the last 5min today.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Given rules!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001