Page 146 - 368603 LP250721 AWY AWY AWY Book (238pp A5)

route and there was a great buzz in the air. As we passed St Peter’s Station a trainload of Mags arrived and there was a barrage of abusive shouts and gestures from both sides. A heavy police presence kept both sides well apart. My seat was in Row 37, which I took as a good omen, and I was high up right on the goal-line we attacked in the first half. Like everyone I was surprised at Fulop’s inclusion but I knew he was good enough to cope. I was pleased that Yorke was playing after his excellent display against Arsenal. Bardsley had got the nod over McCartney but I had no problems with that. I couldn’t hear who was playing for Newcastle as every name was drowned out by booing.
We started brightly and had the better of the opening stages with our best chance coming from Cisse after eighteen minutes when we burst through the middle and he shot just wide. Duff had already been booked and every tackle was being fiercely contested, as you would expect in such a game. After twenty minutes we went one-up after Malbranque forced his way into the box to cross and Cisse stretched to stab it home. I was immediately embraced by the very pissed guy on my left, who’d staggered in after five minutes, and my glasses were nearly crushed but what the hell. On the half- hour it was 1-1 after we conceded a free-kick in a very dangerous position just left of our box and Ameobi nodded it in. It was end to end stuff for a while and Fulop flapped alarmingly at a corner but we survived. I never understand why our players try to hit balls for Diouf to head as I’ve never seen him win one heading-duel, though he’s great on
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