An afternoon when more than just a victory was celebrated saw Town get back to third in the table. Town weren’t always at their slick best, as illustrated at Southampton two weeks’ ago, but they did enough to deserve a win over Bobby Robson’s Newcastle side.

Prior to the game TWTD presented Bobby with a bound version of the Tribute Book put together by the readers of the TWTD site. The great man thanked us and seemed genuinely moved. He said he’d read the book on his travels as he does quite a bit these days. He was also given a fine ovation by fans as he walked from the tunnel to his seat surrounded by photographers: ‘There’s only one Bobby Robson’ sang Town fans and applauded as he took his seat. George Burley was given similar treatment.

Once the game began it was the three points that were the priority. Town left out Titus Bramble with Hermann Hreidarsson moving to centre-back with John McGreal, Chris Makin to the left and Fabian Wilnis to the right. Reuser started on the left of midfield with Holland and Magilton in the middle and Jermaine Wright on the right. Stewart and Armstrong continued up front.

There was a scare for the Blues early on when Solano got free on the right of the box. He cut inside with Hreidarsson chasing and threw himself to the ground. It was an obvious dive and an unnecessary one too as he was in with a good chance of a shot on goal from close range. A number of Town players made the point that they weren’t happy with that sort of thing.

At the other end Town got a freekick just outside the area and Martijn Reuser stepped up. He hit a shot which caught a member of the wall clearly on a hand, Reuser hit another shot as the ball came back to him and again it hit a hand. Referee Mike Dean waved all protests away with Town feeling they were hard done by. A few minutes later another handball went unpunished and Blues’ fans were doubly annoyed when Jim Magilton was harshly picked up for a hand later.

On 17 minutes Town went very close to getting a goal. Earlier Shay Given in the Newcastle goal had tipped over a Reuser shot which had hammered into the ground before rising towards the net. Reuser was again denied as he hit another shot from the left as a cross from the right reached him. Aaron Hughes will be thanking his keeper for tipping his header on to the bar after the defender had almost scored an own goal.

At the other end Carl Cort thought he had put the visitors in front on the half hour when he headed home from a corner. Fortunately for Town referee Dean had seen him push a defender and he blew the whistle as Cort’s header went goalwards. Newcastle fans at the other end of the ground failed to notice Dean give the freekick and celebrated long and hard before their error was pointed out by disgruntled comrades.

Solano again took a dive when running into the box followed by Reuser as a cross came in from the left. Reuser was clearly very annoyed by the Peruvian and made his feelings very clear to both Solano and the referee. Reuser was putting in another highly committed performance and was tackling for every ball as well as showing his attacking class.

Town were getting a lot of space down the left and Reuser was getting crosses in. These were testing the defence and Bobby Robson’s men were doing well to prevent Stewart and Armstrong from getting shots on goal. Jim Magilton had a shot charged down when he ran on to a cleared ball.

At the other end Acuna headed into Richard Wright’s arms from a left-wing cross.

Half-time saw George Burley switch his full-backs perhaps to give Fabian Wilnis the chance to use some of the space which had appeared on the left flank in the first half. Wilnis is a more attacking option that Makin. This also gave the away fans a second chance to barrack the ex-Sunderland player.

Town started well and Wilnis hit a shot wide of Given’s post, but the half became largely a midfield stalemate with neither side in the ascendancy or creating many chances. Town brought off Jim Magilton and brought on James Scowcroft while Fabian Wilnis picked up a knock and was replaced by Mark Venus with Hermann Hreidarsson moving to left —back and Venus going to the centre.

It looked like it was going to take something special to win the game, but instead it was a moment of madness on 76 minutes which won the day. Martijn Reuser swung in a corner from the left which may have got a flick from Stewart, but whatever happened the ball seemed to be going in until Acuna put the ball behind. Venus ran over to the right to hit an inswinger from which Hermann Hreidarsson headed powerfully goalwards. As the Town fans started to erupt in celebration Solano stopped the ball from crossing the line. The immediate appeals from the players saw Referee Dean point to the spot and despatch Solano on his way. No question a penalty and no question a red card.

Marcus Stewart stepped up and put his penalty to the right of Given who got a hand to the ball, but couldn’t keep it out. Town at last seem to have found a reliable penalty-taker after years of hit and miss pretenders.

George Burley brought Clapham on for Reuser for the remaining fifteen minutes and Town ought to have sealed the game a few minutes later when Alun Armstrong headed powerfully over the bar from close in when he should have done better. The Gateshead-born player was visibly very annoyed to have missed out on a goal against the club where he began his career.

Newcastle probably looked at their best after this, but didn’t really bring too many saves from Richard Wright. With the game near an end Bobby Robson was celebrated in song once more as was our current top man George. The whistle went and the old master shook hands with the new hero and Matty began his run round.

Another three points nearer a return to Europe on an afternoon Town fans showed Bobby Robson that they haven’t forgotten all the European nights he brought us in his tenure. Thanks Bobby and here’s to a new European run next season.

Photo: Action Images

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