INTER MILAN AWAY, MARCH 11TH.

By Mark Deeks
March 16 2003

INTER MILAN AWAY, MARCH 11TH. Once again, Mark writes his views on The Magpies' matches. This column is all about the 2-2 draw at the San Siro, with some interesing views of the Inter players!

As a football fan, with a deep love for a particular team, you get used to the emotions that you feel after a game. From the elation of an away win, the relief of victory in a nailbiter, the mild frustration of a draw, to the despair of a humiliating defeat, we've all endured them all many times.

I can honestly say that I cannot remember having so many conflicting strong emotions after a game than I did after this one.

First things first. Ideally, we needed a win. That was the only way we could keep qualification in our own hands. And I have to say, for 95% of this game we were excellent. We went at Inter (officially, currently the best team in the world) and we made them look rattled. Chances were created on a fairly regular basis (especially first half), and when we got the lead on the stroke of half time through magic work from Little Craig and a tidy finish from Super Al, nobody could have denied we deserved it.

By the time we came to full time though, we were faced with having to deal with the following scenario:

We had taken the lead twice in the San Siro (amazing) and thrown it away twice with the only two mistakes we made all night (immense frustration).
Nobby Solano had hit the greatest, hardest volley that he ever will, and that we will ever see (amazing) only to see it come back off the bar, hit the keeper's elbow in mid air and instead of bouncing into the net, roll along the back of his arm to safety (gravity defying).
Been subjected to the biggest barrage of ridiculous ref decisions, dives, feigning injuries and general playacting that I believe it has ever been my misfortune to witness. Conceicao should be banned. Period. FIFA, get a look at the video and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!
Had Craig Bellamy booked for "diving" when replays clearly show he had his trailing foot clipped by the keeper's knee (cast iron pen, Super Al's hat trick, champions league glory), only for Vieri to throw himself on the ground at the other end and get away scot free (just scandalous).
Watched as travelling toon fans were subjected to diving for cover as flares were thrown into their section of the ground by the home fans whilst nothing was done about it.

I can't criticise the Toon for this game. Yes we needed to win and yes we "only" drew. (Although how The Mirror can call the result a "Newcastle slip up" is beyond me). But in any other circumstance, a performance and result of this magnitude would be hailed for years to come.

Newcastle United. Every one of us, from the players, the manager, to the fans greatly enhanced the Champions League tonight. If we can beat Barcelona in the last game and Leverkeusen can try to establish some long lost personal pride against Milan, then maybe we can look back on the game in the San Siro with probably the one emotion that it deserves most of all:

Pride.