FEYENOORD AWAY. NOVEMBER 13TH.

By Mark Deeks
November 19 2002

FEYENOORD AWAY. NOVEMBER 13TH. Mark Deeks writes about this Fantastic game. A game which Newcaslte had in the bag. 2-0 up. What happened next? 2-2 and suddenly both sides have everything to play for. But Super BELLAMY saves the day :)

FEYENOORD AWAY. NOVEMBER 13TH.

What can I say? I don't think words will really do
this game justice. I can safely say that this match gave me one of the greatest nights of my life. And I wasn't even there. ITV 2, a homemade curry and a few beers were my recipe for the night, and d'ya know what? It was perfect!

You know the background by now. We needed a win and a bit of a helping hand from the Old Lady of Italy, Juve in Kiev. Nobby had to make do with a place on the bench, and apparently didn't take it very well. But these are the decisions managers are paid to make.

I've got to say, for the first hour, I thought we were excellent. Yes there were a couple of chances
squandered (with Bellamy's seeming lack of sharpness being the main offender), and yes there was the odd scare at the other end, but generally speaking, it went great. But you knew it was just going too straight forward for the Toon. We can't do things simply can we?

One minute we were coasting at 2-0, the next thing
seven shades of panic had set in and it was 2-2. Oh yeh, and watching the scores coming through from Kiev with the Ukranians taking a brief 1-0 lead were only increasing the stress levels. Then it happened. Juve were suddenly 2-1 up, and things were back in our hands. All we needed was one goal, but if truth be told, there only looked likely to be one winner, and they weren't in black and white.

When the W(izard) K(ieron) D(yer) broke through in
injury time and had his shot palmed away, I actually fell off the sofa onto my knees with my head in my hands, and for a split second it was all lost. We were going to settle for a UEFA place, but let's face it, given our start to the group, it was still going to have been a gallant achievement. My head had only just started to rise again when the word "BBEEELLLAAAMMMMYYY" was beginning to be screamed by John Champion. Then what we were all waiting hear.

"IIIITTTTSSSS 3-2!!!!!!!!!!"

I'm not sure what happened next. It's all a slightly alcohol-filled haze. There was a lot of screaming, a lot of phone calls, a lot of texts, a lot of dancing, and a few more refreshments! I don't think our achievement of getting through to the second stage can be underestimated. As well as the much publicised cash windfall on qualification, surely the fact we're through will be a huge draw for proven players when the transfer window opens in January. Let's hope the
club finally see fit to splash out on a finished
article rather than another potential filled
youngster, no matter how good they are. But for now, let's enjoy the moment. Bring on the really big fish in the next round.

Well done boys! We're proud of every last one of you.