I don't know many people who can recall the last time St. James' hosted a European semi-final. I'd just been celebrating my first birthday and although I consider myself a "lifelong supporter" even that was a bit early to seriously savour some semi-final success.

I think my old man was there but he shuffled off this mortal coil not long after Supermac departed for Highbury - something of a double blow - so I'm not sure what it was like in Toon when Rangers came to visit on May 21st 1969. Pretty unpleasant by the sound of it with the Glasgow hordes intent on causing mayhem around the city and on the pitch, as our keeper Willie McFaul will testify.

Thankfully April 22nd 2004 was a million miles from that. 

This time of year is always a bit strange - going to midweek games while it's still light never quite seems right but the sun was still shining brightly as a capacity crowd made its way to the ground. Frenchmen had been spotted in and around the city most of the day and they seemed an amiable bunch who liked their drink.

Outside the Strawberry a couple of youngsters spotted their teacher and shouted "Sir!". A nervous glance round was met with a genuine grin and wave from the youngsters. No great allegorical significance in that, just a nice moment where two warring factions found some common ground. Not exactly the Christmas truce in No Man's Land but you just knew that hostilities would resume the next day with the kids taking the piss out of the teacher's beige denim jacket....

But the atmosphere was excitable and a little tense as it suddenly dawned on people that this was a European semi-final. Whether the "Goal!" cine-cameras were able to capture that mood, we'll wait to see but there was definitely something tangibly different about this atmosphere.

Team news was a little worrying in that the doubtful Shola had been given the nod to partner Shearer up front. Bridges had looked rusty at Villa but a bout of gastro enteritis for the loan-striker had made Bobby's decision for him. Lee Bowyer, who would almost certainly have started his first European game for United after his 12-match ban had twinged his hamstring and Hugo Viana was once more given his ideal scenario - a central midfield role in a big game against continental opposition.

The injury crisis had robbed us of any real pace to test their defences but the eleven that started might not have been dramatically different given a fully fit squad. Slight cause for optimism.

Again, the pre-match running order of tunes was drowned out by the ad hoc chanting from the crowd - usually a good sign that supporters were up for the contest. And so it proved with only a nervous dip when Marseille threatened to get their away goal in the second half detracting from a night of throaty encouragement. It certainly helped our lot.

Didier Drogba lived up to his pre-match billing as their dangerman. He looked pacey and neat on the ball and was a constant handful for our back four. Early in the game he skimmed a header just wide to serve a warning of things to come. 

At the other end Shearer was in typical form and his display of holding up the ball and winning aerial challenges was superb. Too good for Ameobi, certainly, who failed to read the flicks time and time again, almost always being second to the ball. However, he latched onto one Shearer flick and held off Meite in the box but Barthez saved with his legs when Shola seemed a certain scorer.

Drogba had a similar situation at the other end when he cut inside O'Brien but an even better save from Shay Given kept out the lively striker as half-time loomed. A goal then would have been a disaster and harsh on United who had probably just shaded the first half.

Marseille started the second period looking menacing and Woodgate, who was outstanding at the heart of our defence had to be at his best to deny Drogba and then N'Diaye. Our best hope came from free-kicks and we won a couple in excellent positions. Robert had tumbled theatrically for one and could easily have received the booking given to Beye for the foul. From the kick Shearer's fierce shot was parried by Barthez and Speed's follow-up shaved the post as most of us expected the net to bulge.

It's difficult to be negative about a decent performance but the constant surrendering of possession by Viana and Robert put us under unnecessary pressure. None more so than when Robert gave the ball away twice and when Ferreira floated a cross to Drogba the striker crashed a superb left-footed volley that hit the inside of Given's right post before going out for a goal-kick on the other side of the goal.

Ameobi had looked off the pace all evening and his usual languid style had looked even more relaxed than usual. It may have been the lad's biggest game of his career which he must have known so we'll give him the benefit of any doubt and put it down to injury/cramp. He trotted over to Bobby while the ball was in play and asked to be subbed and within seconds Bridges was on.

A few minutes later and Bridges almost won the game. A mis-hit clearance fell to the substitute who showed excellent pace and strength to get a shot in which unfortunately went a couple of yards wide with Barthez beaten. Drogba gave us a couple of scares near the end but we survived to take a useful result to the Velodrome in a fortnight's time.

We desperately need an injection of pace to threaten them on the break in the second leg but if our back four, Woodgate especially, can reproduce the form they showed tonight then Marseille will have to work hard to beat us. They clearly have the talent to do that but they are not as frightening as home and away victories over Inter suggest.

The tie is finely poised, as it was when we left Ibrox with a 0-0 nearly 35 years ago. Our dreams remain intact and our odds of success are far higher than when we travelled to Feyenoord last season.

With a bit of luck, plenty of endeavour and a gutsy performance the end of our season could still be Wednesday May 19th....