Matty

Exactly. I'm not actively seeking out someone to have a go at, and I'm 100% supportive during the match. However, I am entitled to an opinion, and if I think Harper had a poor game then I'll say so. On a fans' message board of all places. It's clear to see why he was number 2 for so many years tbh.

Well I've seen some shocking keepers but I wouldn't put Harper's performance anywhere near that list. Given's had some howlers at City btw.... Well done though everyone, I'm sure Harper'll be feeling on top of the world for Saturday now. Eh?! What do you expect people to say? How brilliant he was, despite him being distinctly average again? It's about opinions man, and in many people's opinion who were at the match and could clearly see more than someone watching it from a stream, could see his distribution and willingness to help out the back 4 was painful. And if Harper will now not be "on top of the world for Saturday", well he'll only have himself to blame.

Aye, I remember applauding that tackle because it was a very smart foul to make. Butt might not have had to make that tackle had Duff not spent five minutes whinging on his arse instead of getting back in position (although otherwise Duff did have a good game). Aye, that's a point. He just lay there whinging instead of getting up and tracking back.

Aye, I remember applauding that tackle because it was a very smart foul to make.

Match report from True Faith: Newcastle United 3 Middlesbrough 1 Monday 11/May/09, SJP, KO 8pm, Premier League. Fucking hell, how long has it been since you’ve come away from SJP feeling like that eh? In probably our biggest game of the last 15 years we turned in the performance of the season on and off the pitch to put survival within reach and the hairs on the back of your neck firmly on end. Everyone knew that this was probably shit or bust and for once, we triumphed in a must win game and put safety within our own hands. Shearer brought Nolan, Owen and Steven Taylor in from the capitulation at Anfield and with the crowd well and truly up for it, we started well. Only shit control from Owen prevented him from being clear on goal with only ten seconds gone but only two minutes in we were behind in the unluckiest of circumstances. A through ball to Tuncay saw his shot come back off Harper only for the ball to bounce back off a hugely unlucky Beye into the open net. Instead of our collective arses dropping, the volume increased and we almost levelled straight away when a fantastic Viduka snap shot came back off the bar. From the first minute, it was obvious that for once the Aussie wanted to know and he frightened the Boro back line shitless throughout. He almost set up Owen within seconds before his shot rebounded to Taylor who ballooned over and there was only five minutes gone. We didn’t need to wait long for the equaliser though. Guthrie shunned NUFC protocol by putting over a perfectly flighted corner which Taylor met with a fantastic header past Jones. The rest of the half was everything football should be (minus perhaps much outstanding quality) as both sides went at each other hammer and tongs. Owen had a header from a Viduka cross saved well by Jones before Emnes found a rebound from a drive falling to him ten yards out. I think every person in the ground thought he’d put the rebound home but somehow he managed to steer it wide with the goal at his mercy – a real let off. To be fair to Boro they looked very sharp on the break and only a well placed professional foul from Butt prevented Downing from being played in on goal, but if we looked vulnerable, they looked terrified and the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other. The second half, if anything started at an even higher tempo. Viduka backheeled wide from a Beye cross when he could have controlled and turned to shoot before a series of ricochets brought a great save from Harper (who was otherwise absolute and utter gash) from an O’Neill shot. We started to look a bit devoid of ideas as the half wore on. Owen wasn’t profiting from Viduka’s superb hold up play and the less said about Gutierrez (full stop) the better so it was encouraging to see Shearer replace them with a bit of pace in the form of Lovenkrands and Martins. The substitutions paid dividends almost immediately. The ball broke to Oba in the box and rather than blazing over, he steadied himself and slotted it past Jones. Pandemonium. Relief, delight and possible salvation all spilling down from the stands followed immediately by a palpable sense of 50,000 sets of nerves jangling as Boro came back at us in search of an equaliser. With just a few minutes left though, Nolan pulled the ball back for Lovenkrands to place an unstoppable finish high past Jones. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy since that last minute at Feyenoord and everyone knew what a massive moment it was for us. Word at this moment must go to Nolan, who has been little better than a disgrace since signing for us...until tonight. Along with another deserved whipping boy, Duff, Nolan was absolutely fantastic tonight, appearing all over the pitch with vital passes, interceptions and an all round will to win the game. A total and utter transformation. And Lovenkrands finish was absolute class. Fucking hell – can you believe you’re reading this? We closed the game out for a victory that doesn’t yet save us but puts it well on the way. Of course, we have to do it all again on Saturday but three points against Fulham will probably ensure Premiership football next season. Forget the fact that we’re only in this situation due to the abysmal failures of others down there with us and there is real belief that we are half way there, with emphasis on the half. With a performance and level of noise like this though, we can certainly turn Fulham over and possibly even go to Villa safe and in party mode. For now, just revel in what was a hugely entertaining game, a fantastic result and a throwback to the good old days on the terraces of SJP. What a difference a game makes!

Have to agree with the critisism of Harper like... I've got very little confidence in the lad as soon as the ball comes anywhere near our box. He's far too slow to come off his line as well. On a positive note, Viduka was class I thought. Taylor had a very good game as well. I would actually start with Viduka and Owen again on Saturday and let Martins come on with 30 minutes to go and scare them with his pace (although he still has no idea at all where/when to run). I thought Guti bottled several challenges throughout the game and constantly fell over and is still unable to cross a ball. Brilliant atmosphere in The Corner last night like, just hope all of it wasn't in vein and we can get another 3 points on Saturday!

Hoops.

Terry's piled the pounds on tbh.

He was still a Southampton player the stupid cunts, that was 91/92 when we were 23rd in Division Two, they were getting 33,000 under Houllier in the Premiership. Fucking scouse cunts, I honestly hate them. ps Man City, Wolves, and Leeds huge gates in the lower leagues??? All lower than us in either of 1984 or 1993 in a lower league. Fucking idiots. What a sad, bitter man you are. bet your a right barrel of laughs. Face it mate, we outclass you more or less every single time we play you lot, and no matter how hard you try we are by far a bigger club than you, with ten times the amount of fans nationally and 100 times the amount of fans worldwide than you. you say we don't have as big a local fanbase as you lot? well done einstein, considering were a two team city - three if your counting Tranmere - and considering there is not much difference in populations of the two cities and surrounding areas, then its hardly surprising. And know this, its Newcastle fans like you who are giving the fans a bad name, with your spurious facts about attendances (interestingly what have been your cup attendances in the last few seasons?) and claiming your this massive club, when in reality you've just got a big ground, big clubs win trophies mate. To be fair, it was the shite newspaper article that brought up the attendance argument. Stevie was just pointing out the mistakes... with added personally opinion obviously

Not even gonna risk it... what is it?

The two in bold are a load of shite tbh.

A rose between 2 cunts...

5.8 - The landing could have been better

www.lastminutetips.co.uk is a brilliant site tbh! It's worth the money as their system is superb.... fuck knows how they do it but I couldn't care less as long as it keeps paying out! £75 up after just over a week!

I'd rather he tipped them over the bar than be like Gomez and push them into the back of the net or at the striker's feet Just like he did at Tottenham last week?

We don't need 9 or 10 points. We need 3 more points than Hull or 4 points more than sunderland by the end of the season. Simple as that. Getting them won't be as simple though...

Just stuck £5 on Owen to score first @ 10/1!

It's gonna be blue numbers like, with the blue trimming on the kit already... Shame!

I backed Ipswich at 4/1 today... if nothing else, he's an impact manager.

From .com Graeme Danby will give a pre-match rendition of "The Blaydon Races" and the teams will enter to a four-sided wall of black and white cards. 20,000 flags are also being given out and 1,000 fans up in the Leazes Level Seven Corner will be handed scarves.

Never!

Trampoline wank?

Probably just a new sponsor, so a slight change to the shirt, like the 2000/01 kit when NTL became the sponsor.