THURSDAY DECEMBER 27 2001 Newcastle's front-runners clear another hurdle BY GEORGE CAULKIN Newcastle United 3 Middlesbrough 0 THOSE who have been predicting the swift downfall of Newcastle United from their unexpected perch at the top of the FA Barclaycard Premiership could revel in blessed self-righteousness briefly yesterday. For all of two hours, Arsenal clambered above Bobby Robson’s team to reclaim first place for the division’s thoroughbreds, but the sages waiting for the latest incarnation of Geordie adventure to implode find themselves still waiting this morning. It is half a decade since Newcastle last won five league matches in succession, when Kevin Keegan was still attempting to walk unaided across the Tyne and talk of winning the championship was positively encouraged. With Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds United and Manchester United breathing down his neck and breaking the bank, it is hardly surprising that Robson, the Newcastle manager, should shake his head and dismiss those dreams as idle chatter, but in terms of style and success there are resonances with an earlier era.

The entertainers are back. With a front six of Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Nolberto Solano, Laurent Robert, Kieron Dyer and Gary Speed, Newcastle can punish any side, as all the favourites, except Liverpool, have discovered. Their position is no product of good fortune but of spirit, intelligence and imagination. At last, they take the small fences as smoothly as the large.

Newcastle were beguiling and Middlesbrough were beguiled, but not to the extent of lulling Robson into abandoning his policy of cautious enthusiasm. “I won’t change my stance,” he said. “I think we’ll be there or thereabouts but, in my opinion, the teams below us — and it feels very nice to say that — have that extra bit of quality. My aim is still to finish in the first six; if we get there, we’ll be delighted with our season.” Next to come are Chelsea, Manchester United and Leeds, with an FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace in the middle, but they will no longer be regarded with trepidation.

The sum of Middlesbrough’s contribution to the hundredth league meeting between these North East rivals was as generous as that of Mr Scrooge. They are in a similar predicament to the one faced by Robson when he returned home to Tyneside 2˝ years ago; patience, as the grand old man of English football has shown to perfection, underpins everything. This was an off-day in a period of mediocrity for Middlesbrough, but the foundations of the team appear more solid than they did under Bryan Robson, even if they have been stripped of their flair.

A meagre three points is what separates them from the relegation scramble and confidence has deserted them. Familiar worries are returning. “After some performances, you think to yourself ‘we’re back to square one’,” Steve McClaren said, “and today was very disappointing. We’re better than that. For all the teams outside the top six, 40 points is the target.”

There was certainly little antidote to the pace of Dyer, Bellamy and — when he could rouse himself — Robert, a quicksilver trio who softened up the opposition for the delectation of their colleagues. There were fleet-footed counter-attacks, imperfect shots, missed chances and a string of proficient saves from Mark Crossley, the Wales goalkeeper, but while Middlesbrough scuffled to keep up with their tormentors, Shearer, Speed and Bernard gloried in the freedom.

Shearer’s ninth goal of the season was hardly his sweetest — indeed, Gareth Southgate may have an unwanted claim to it — although given that this was precisely the sort of innocuous fixture that Newcastle would have stumbled over a few short months ago, there were few complaints. It was ugly in creation and execution, with Franck Queudrue swinging and missing at a clearance from Sylvain Distin, Shearer’s volley being smothered by Crossley and Southgate deflecting the rebound.

The achievement was in settling the nerves of a fractured St James’ Park, where the weight of soaring expectation is balanced by the fear of another bubble bursting. From the half-hour, their progress was serene and, by the end, their advantage could have been doubled; a shot from Robert took a nick and trickled marginally wide of the right post, Shearer had a header disallowed for pushing and Bellamy fluffed a head-to-head confrontation with Crossley.

They were, however, to get their just reward, as were Middlesbrough. In the 58th minute, Shearer’s first-time effort was deflected by Ugo Ehiogu and from Solano’s outswinging corner, Speed’s header crossed the line after brushing Bellamy’s chest. Then, shortly before the conclusion of a desperately one-sided game, Dyer and Bellamy set up Bernard, a late substitute, to shoot low and true.

It was deeply impressive, even to the vanquished, and McClaren was far more revealing than Robson when it came to dissecting Newcastle’s hopes of maintaining their elevated position. “It depends on how ambitious the club is,” the former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson said, “but I don’t know what resources they’ve got. What I can tell you is that consistency wins championships and they’re the most consistent team in the league.”

One by one, the hurdles are being cleared.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): S Given 6 — A Hughes 7, S Distin 6, A O’Brien 8, R Elliott 6 — N Solano 6 (sub: R Lee, 79min), K Dyer 7 (sub: L Lua-Lua, 84), G Speed 7, L Robert 6 (sub: O Bernard, 79) — A Shearer 7, C Bellamy 8. Substitutes not used: S Harper, W Barton.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-1-1): M Crossley 7 — R Stockdale 5, U Ehiogu 5, G Southgate 7, F Queudrue 5 — J Greening 5, P Ince 6, R Mustoe 6, N Whelan 4 (sub: A Campbell, 46) — C Marinelli 5 (sub: P Okon, 81) — A Boksic 5 (sub: H Ricard, 81). Substitutes not used: M Beresford, C Cooper. Booked: Ehiogu.

Referee: M Halsey 7.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Answers

Georgie boy is a fan though, local and ST holder - (allegedly like)

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001