Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2: Heartache Inspires Belief

I've never been so brassed off taking money off the bookies.

My 2-2 pre-match prediction and usual fiver returned me £60 but I felt like putting a match to it after the last kick of the game penalty denied the Toon a magnificent win.

Heartbreak Deja Vu All Over Again

Dropping points from winning positions was a recurring sickener last season and that has left us fans with never believing a game is won until the whistle blows.

After eleven years of never beating Liverpool in the league - when five minutes of added time was announced I couldn't see where that had came from - but when it ticked down to 20 seconds left on the clock it seemed that a win was finally coming.

But no...

This is Newcastle United and, yet again, the almost inevitable bitter end came when Munoz ran into Hall and Atwell pointed to the spot.

The ecstasy of what seemed only seconds away was ripped from us as the penalty was thrashed past Hornicek and the final whistle was blown seconds later.

I've had some gut wrenchers in my 60 odd years supporting NUFC but that was right up there with the worst of them.

Magnificent Spirit & Outstanding Performanes

On the match...

Bin the stats that say Liverpool had 60%+ of the play.

They didn't have a player on the pitch who could match the performances of Wissa, Dedic, Hall, Elanga and Miley and the doubts about Hornicek were massively eased with two tremendous saves that look better the more I watch the replays.

Those six may have been the standouts, but every player right down to the subs gave their all in a magnificent and spirited team performance that took us right back to the early heady days under Eddie Howe.

There were slaps, claps and fist shakes of encouragement every time a cross was cleared, a tackle won, a shot blocked, or a good move nearly came off.

In just three short weeks Matthias Jaissle and his coaching team have restored the spirit, camaraderie and pride in wearing the black and white shirt that had ebbed away from the squad last season like the tide running back on a dull day at Tynemouth.

Our new young manager has tremendous belief and confidence in his abilities and yesterday's performance has shown that his aura and leadership has invigorated , galvanised and hugely motivated all of those around him.

On a day that we paid tribute to the life and era of one Toon Messiah, it may well have been the dawn of the new Messiah who will lead us to the land that PIF promised.

Above all else - even in the heartache of that crushing last kick equaliser - what every Toon fan can take from the match is that this squad under MJ will give their all to the shirt.

That is what we fans crave, and with two or three additions to this squad of young and older warriors who knows what we might achieve this season.

If Matthia Jaissle can pull off what he has after just three weeks...

Imagine what he can do in three months.

KIng Kev Given A Royal Salute & Send Off

It exceeded all expectations.

So hats off to Wor Flags and all who were part of contributing to the fabulous spectacle that engulfed SJP in honour to the great man.

For those fans, like me, who were there to witness KK's debut goal at the Gallowgate, leading us to promotion as a player and manager, and bringing an attacking style of play so thrilling to watch that we were nicknamed 'The Entertainers' ...

That send off brought back glorious memories and showed those too young to have been there how much Kevin Keegan really meant to their dads, grandads and the club.

We've have had some great players who have become legends of their time; Hughie Gallagher, Len Shackleton, Jackie Milburn, Bobby Moncur and Alan Shearer...

But King Kev stands alone as a player who gave us not just skills, goals and leadership, but an emotional bond and a pride in our club and city that went way beyond just football.

Kevin, we are eternally grateful. RIP, and from our hearts, thank you again and again.

We will never forget Kevin Keegan...

But now it is time to look forward under Matthias Jaissle.

Yesterday, we saw a future that gave us back hope and belief.

It's early days...

But. I believe we have more to look forward to than we would ever have believed just three short weeks ago.

In the heartache of the last seconds...

That is the real emotion that eases the pain this Monday morning.

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