The final whistle of this game was greeted with a roar from the home fans that combined exuberant celebration with sheer relief at our passage into the first European Semi-final since our successful campaign of 1968/69.

As we'd come to realise in the first game, the opposition were rather less than wonderful, but of course this being Newcastle means that any semblance of logic or common sense goes straight out of the window.

An opening 45 minutes was made comparatively easy by a Shearer header to give us an early advantage, combined with an inability on the part of PSV to offer decent service or support to their man in the shop window, sole striker Kezman.

The relative ease with which we consequently got through the first half transmitted itself to the crowd, who began in good voice but gradually fell quiet for longer periods giving this game the slightly unreal air of an Intertoto tie or a pre-season friendly.

However, within seven minutes of the restart, some inexplicable clarting around by first Ambrose and then Bernard gave PSV the chance to regain a foothold in the match and the tie, which Kezman duly exploited.

And had the officials spotted an apparent trip just inside one corner of our box by Bramble just minutes later, then we could have been really up against it - Titus having previously spurned our best chance of a second goal before the interval when he couldn't connect with his attempted header.

As it was though, the scores remained tied at 1-1 as they had been in the Netherlands, giving rise to the possibility of extra time, silver goals and a second European penalty shootout exit in the same season (if no team has managed that yet, bank on us being the first...) 

Game on then and this match came alive, not least in the stands where resolve rather than panic seemed to be the order of the day and people started to get behind the team, encouraging and cajoling rather than hissing and moaning. 

And it worked.

Laurent Robert has consistently made noises to the effect that he's happy at the club and in the region and intends to see his contract out until 2006. Well, on the basis of these two games against PSV, his services could easily be retained for at least another decade.

His corner for Speed to head home what proved to be the winning goal was his third dead ball assist in the tie and again almost the only tangible thing he added to our effort. The occasional attempts at covering back and tackling invoke almost as much panic among his own fans than his set pieces do in the opposition ranks....

If we can afford the luxury of a dead ball expert in the style of Dan Marino or Johnny Wilkinson, then he appears to be your man. Someone has to be on the end of those crosses though and tonight it was the two onfield captains who timed runs and jumps to perfection and got their reward.

Add to that a vital save in the closing stages by Given (although TV replays suggested the free kick from Bouma may just have swerved wide) and Bobby's so-called blue chip boys all gave good value for money, even though their schedule becomes ever more energy-sapping. Perhaps it's just as well that their view of Euro 2004 will be from a comfy chair - they'll need the rest if they're going to carry us on their broad shoulders again next season. 

However, memorable though this game was for it's significance rather than dazzling moments of skill, it was difficult in the minutes leading up to Speed's goal to see where another one was coming from as our creative shortcomings were once again evident. No lack of effort, but too many aimless balls in the vague direction of Bellamy and too much cheaply-discarded possession told their own story.

Equally valid though was the increased confidence that we could hold out and the chances of a self-induced costly error seem to have reduced since the Spurs game as we've shown more solidity in the face of what admittedly haven't been all out onslaughts on our goal from PSV (twice) and Arsenal. No coincidence that this improvement has coincided with the reinstatement of a fit Woodgate at the back, calmly and assuredly sweeping up and damping down anything that looks like catching us out.

At times it wasn't pretty but in sacrificing our so-called entertainers tag for a more durable work ethic (excluding Robert) we've earned our reward.  

After the match players and pundits rightly pointed out we've done nowt and we've won nowt in real terms so far, but the post-match scramble for flights to the South of France (thankfully not Milan) told its own story - the toon are on the march and there's the scent of something unrecognisable in their nostrils. Success? Who knows. 

We're just happy being there, being in contention and being part of what at times has been a drab season but which finally, belatedly has seen us do what was required at the time. No frills, but no spills. Yet.

En Avant, as they say in the French-speaking parts of Howden.