73 mins. Suker's first touch was to lay a pass into the path of Frederic Kanoute, just inside our penalty area. It bypassed Lee and Kanoute seized upon it before the covering defender Hughes, to smash it into the small gap between keeper and post at the South end of the ground.. 0-1

Full time: WHUFC 1 NUFC 0

Match facts:

Twenty games since we last won within the confines of the M25. A miserable return. Not since Dalglish took his side to Palace in late 1997 have we been able to celebrate a Capital victory with late-running skips masquerading as transportation to take us off to drink over-priced beer served to us by Australians......

We said:  Robert Robson, giving a fair impression of a man whose dog has run off it's lead and won't come back no matter how hard he shouts it, said:

"Andy (Griffin) finished battered and bruised but he hasn't played for a month and went into the game with little training. He's done very well for us but he knew we had nobody else. My defence included Andy, who had not played for four weeks, and Robert Lee, who had never played in that position before.

To nobody's great surprise, our three-year streak of failing to win in London was extended, but aside from the result, there were some positive factors in our losing performance for uncle Bobby to mull over on the return journey.

Aside from that M25 hex, pre-match portents didn't look good, with defensive reshuffles again disturbing the balance of the team, and the Hammers desperate to record a league victory in front of their fans for the first time since April. Add to that presence of the Match of the Day vultures and Jonah John Motson, and historically, we were always up against it.

In the event, a narrow defeat was slightly harsh on Newcastle and their travelling fans, who gave good support not only to their current favourites, but also generous applause to old boys Shaka Hislop and Stuart Pearce. Luckily, Paul Kitson was nowhere to be seen.

A debutant South American in midfield made a solid start in English football, but instead of the expected Bassedas, it was recent acquisition Clarence Acuna who lined up and got stuck in. With Robert Lee impressing as a sweeper, Acuna was able to play his natural game in Lee's role, and impressed with his economic use of the ball and ability to maintain control under pressure.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for his colleague Lua Lua, who seemed to be simply trying too hard to make an impression. More than once his footwork gained him a moment of freedom, but he chose to plunge back into the Hammers defences rather than bring colleagues into the game. A lack of experience of football at this level is evident, but his obvious ability is also apparent, and there was still an audible buzz whenever he picked the the ball up. The magic is there, have faith. And patience.

With an array of overseas talent in both sides, it was a pair of England defenders who justifiably earned the plaudits for containing Newcastle, especially in the latter stages of the game when crosses were being hurled towards them. Rio Ferdinand had one of his committed games, while Stuart Pearce was his usual obstinate and abrasive self, belying his advancing years. An on-the-spot comparison with the younger, richer, softer Marcelino wasn't possible, as our Spanish ponce had cried off with a bruised something or other, and our current French left back Domi was also absent. Apparently he'd been feeling a bit under the weather. An expression not to be found in the Pearce vocabulary i'm sure....

Add Lee to the equation, and he and Pearce become exhibits B and C** in the case against R.Gullit, on a charge of undermining Newcastle United. Perhaps the Dutchman thought that having a former league manager in the squad was a threat to his authority, or maybe he just didn't like English Internationals. 

In hindsight, if we'd beaten the mackems on that rainy night and Rudi had stayed, Lee and Shearer would have packed their bags along with Pearce (and Beardsley, who looked set for a job on the junior staff, but was then told his services weren't required.) God knows where we'd be now, but Uncle Bobby would probably be England Manager and it wouldn't be just the £70 seats at St.James' gathering dust... 

Newcastle now embark on a run of 4 games out of 5 at home, where their recent performances and results have not exactly conformed to our "fortress St.James'" strategy. Hopefully positive results against Bradford and high-flying Ipswich will put us in good form for the visit of the mackems. We certainly have a score to settle with them, whether it rains or not.... 

PS -The biggest problem with signing all these South Americans seems to be inventing songs for them: Clarence and Cristian sounds like a WWF tag team combo, or something to do with lions.....     

**: Exhibit A ? You may expect me to say dropping Shearer against the mackems, but I would place his purchase of Duncan Ferguson far and away above that.

Biffa