February 2011

After a decent month in January, league form wise, it was ruined in typical NUFC fashion with the sale of Andy Carroll.

Our first game of February came quite quick. Fulham away on a Wednesday night. A lovely trip for this die hard, got to meet overseasTOON again, as well as Beardsley's Magic. The match was ****. We lost, Duff scored off the back of a poor Enrique mistake. Shola broke his cheek bone, so Carroll gone, Shola injured, all we had left was Best and Lovenkrands, oh and Ranger. We never threatened at all, it was such a poor performance and of course, we got slated in the press.

I felt a little better after the match after a few drinks in Fulham, and then back to the hotel after disagreeing on where to go. Overseas came back and slept in the bath, cracking sight that was.

We then had Arsenal at home. We all feared the worst, I am sure you will all agree. After 40 seconds, it was the worst, 1-0 Arsenal. 2 minutes, 2-0 Arsenal. 9 minutes, 3-0 Arsenal, 26 minutes, 4-0 Arsenal. It was terrible, people were leaving for a pint already, Arsenal fans jubilant, at this moment in time I really feared relegation for the first time that season.

Second half started slow, but then was brought to life with the sending off of Diaby. We then got a penalty after a foul on Best, Barton scored. Oh well, we got 1.

We then had a goal disallowed, wrong decision, but Best then got the second. A little bit of hope, but there were only 15 minutes left, surely not?

We got ANOTHER penalty, no way it was a penalty but we took it, as you do. Barton scored this time, with a deflection from the keeper. 3-4. **** off, no way we were going to do this. It had never happened before.

However, there was that little bit inside me that just knew we were going to score. 7 minutes left, HOWAY!

The atmosphere was unbelievable, as good as if not better than the Sunderland game, the Gallowgate faithful were sucking them in, we were blowing from the Leazes(for the dirty minded amongst you, don't blow your load). The whole ground was on their feet. Could we do it?

Barton was fouled on the right hand side. CUMON, this is it!! Barton swung it in, cleared away, BOOM BOOM, CHEIK CHEIK THE ROOM! CHEIK TIOTE WITH AN UNBELIEVABLE STRIKE! What a goal. I fell over, I think everyone did. Arsenal fans just sunk, being right next to them was fantastic. **** me sideways I heard someone shout amongst the mass celebration. Jubilation, I looked around the ground and people were just going sensationally wild. Pandemonium, almost orgasmic. What a volley by Tiote, as soon as he hit it you just knew it was destined for the back of the net. THe players and management were jubilant, that was the first time I knew Pardew actually cared a whole lot.

There was still 3 minutes plus a further 5 added on. It would be too much to ask to win it. We give it a good go though. Nolan got the ball in the middle and played it back to Jose. He launched the ball forward to Ranger(his best performance in the B&W), he chested it down, there was Nolan, caught the ball so sweet, just a foot wide. The ground was bouncing, we just knew this would shut the critics up.

Arsenal had a goal rightly ruled out for offside. The final whistle, jubilation written all over our faces, Arsenal fans sticking their fingers up at their own players, understandably.

Walking out, you could tell which ones were the Arsenal lot. This was a brilliant feeling, it was different to the Sunderland game, I couldn't stop smiling. And to come back on here to see SAFC fans writing articles on our board laughing at half time just made me feel so much better. I thought this was the night to get pissed.

We then travelled to Blackburn a week later. Cracking support from the Toon Army, we dominated. Totally dominated, Enrique was sensational but we just couldn't score. A 0-0 draw it ended, not so bad I guess but we just weren't winning.

We then travelled to Birmingham on the following Tuesday night. A massive 3500 following, brilliant support. Lovenkrands out us 1-0 up two minutes in. We looked really comfortable and I was quite confident that we would win. Best made it 2 in the second half, this was a brilliant away win.

We then had a weekend off before facing Bolton at home. Nolan put us 1 up against his former club, but Sturridge levelled before half time. Raylor was sent off for a shocking challenge in the second half. Not the best match to report on to be honest.

The Arsenal game made that month, and if that story of that game didn't make you smile, then you are dead inside. Onwards and upwards to safety we went!

 

although the story has been told many a time and i think every toon fan knew what it was like in february, i say its very nice to hear your personal account. reading it i could feel your emotions from that month and it took me back to that fateful game against arsenal.

very good article. rep for passion!

 

Just continuing my monthly reviews from last season

 

I was having an early dinner with family and got this from you:

05/02/2011 Message received at 4:36pm

4-0 Arsenal

05/02/2011 Message received at 6:16pm

Ahhhhhhhhh!!! **** me sideways!

 

dont get me wrong. its a fantastic review. had me hooked on every word

 

cheers mate

 

Simply brilliant Badger mate.

The Arsenal game for me was particularly pleasing - the two lads I have my ST with left the ground at 4-0, I stayed as I always do and the rest is history

 

<laugh. rep for that text, and for relating it to us.

 

Good read, best one yet, I'd say.