1. By beating Spurs 3-1, you remain 3rd in the table, two points behind Man Utd. It was a good night and you are still on course for the title.

Yes, it was perfect. However, we started badly. Tottenham opened the scoring after quarter of an hour and we really struggled in the first half. For the first time this season (he's obviously suppressed the Spurs home game), we changed our formation to 3-5-2 and we had trouble getting to grips with it. Also, we didn't have a real passer. Speed, Lee and Dyer were injured and we had a fairly young team out. I was a substitute. I hadn't trained much last week and the manager preferred me to stay on the bench.

2. The whole complexion of the game changed in the second half?

The manager asked me to get ready to go on in the second half. I replaced Elliott on the left and fortunately had Sylvain behind me to do the defensive work. He did loads of work. We equalised after twenty minutes. I put in a free kick and Acuna headed it in. I had several opportunities to score but Bellamy should have given me the ball more (laughs). At one point, I was alone in front of the keeper but he shot himself from a much harder angle. These are small details but you have to bear them in mind when you are playing big teams. The second goal came from left. I linked up with Bellamy who got past a defender and put in a good cross that Shearer put in the back of the net. For the third, Shearer put in a cross and Bellamy scored (??).

3. You coming on changed the game?

As at Arsenal, my coming on opened things up. I was closely marked, leaving space elsewhere.

4. Now all that remains is for you to score.

Exactly. I hope to score on Saturday against Bolton. This will be a very tough game as they lost at home to Man Utd 4-0 this week. I will start on Saturday. I feel good and all that remains is for me to score.

5. What are you doing until Saturday?

I'm just going into training and we'll be training tomorrow. We absolutely have to get three points on Saturday. We aren't watching what anyone else is doing as that's the best way to come unstuck. We are playing for ourselves and doing the maths afterwards.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Answers

If looks could kill Bellamy would've been dead after not passing to Robert....he really was totally in the clear, Bellamy didn't even lift his head and shot MILES wide....I vaguely remember another occasion later on where Robert did the same with Shearer.....

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Compare to a few seasons ago when it seemed everyone except Shearer had an unnatural fear of trying to score goals. It's so nice to have so many players wanting it so badly now. Also love Lolo's attitude about looking at one game at a time and not worrying about everyone else. That's the supporters' job! ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

My thoughts exactly. Makes a pleasant change to see players hungry for the ball and score goals.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Gav, I note Bellamy and Shearer praise Robert today so maybe his galres struck home. It has to be said that he has been on the receiving end of some withering looks in his time...

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

"I was closely marked, leaving space elsewhere"

Which is exactly why he should play in every single game he is fit enough. Even if he does nowt he is a huge asset to us.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002