Tottenham 1 Newcastle Utd 4:KEVIN KEEGAN noted last week that it did not take much to set Geordie pulses racing. A couple of wins at the beginning of a season and the team are going to win the Premier League, he smiled.
Newcastle is that kind of town. Back-to-back victories have been a rarity this season, which has been one to test sorely the patience of fans, but joy surged for them here as Keegan's team built on the previous week's 2-0 win over Fulham to put Tottenham to the sword.
Lingering fears of relegation were all but eradicated, yet it was the manner of the win that warmed the black-and-white faithful. The sight of Newcastle pressing for and ultimately scoring a fourth goal away from home triggered memories of the glory years under Keegan. And as the team poured forward, only the hardest of Spurs hearts would have failed to take pleasure in seeing Keegan do what he does so contagiously - enjoy himself.
The manager nipped about his technical area, to and from the bench, living every moment, every missed chance. He erupted in delight when Michael Owen chipped in the third, which effectively sealed the contest, and, thereafter, the pressure finally seemed to lift from those shoulders.
This was riotous fare and Keegan could acknowledge requests from the delirious away enclosure for a wave. The three players he withdrew, Mark Viduka, Owen and Geremi, got the full treatment from him, hands clasped to faces, sweet nothings whispered into ears and, at full-time, Keegan revelled in pointing his team towards their supporters.
What a difference a week and two matches make.
"I feel the same but I know what you mean," said Keegan, when it was put to him that he looked a different man. He went on to insist Premier League safety was not guaranteed, but then the old excitement bubbled to the surface and he could not help suggesting a few big signings would "set us alight".
He joked he might "put a couple more forwards in next time" but the ones on the pitch had served him well. Viduka's strength and mercurial skill were at the heart of the second-half effort, together with Obafemi Martins's boldness and direct running, while Owen put his England disappointments behind him to shine in his attacking midfield role.
The clocks sprang forward yesterday but in a sense Keegan turned them back. Attack has long been his best form of defence and, when it comes together as it did so gloriously against a Tottenham team lacking motivation, the fireworks can be compelling.
"You've only got to look at our defensive record, and not just since I came back in. When you just try to defend and hang on to something, it puts as much pressure on your defenders.
"I think our defenders know now when I put this team out that maybe they can concede a goal and still have enough to win, whereas in the past maybe a goal goes in against us and 'that's it, we're going to get beat'."
Newcastle did not allow their heads to drop after Darren Bent glanced in Steed Malbranque's cross from the left. They had already struck the bar through Habib Beye and gone close through Joey Barton.
Nicky Butt restored parity just before the interval, sweeping in a low first-time shot beyond the unsighted Paul Robinson.
The second half was a golden period for Keegan. After Barton had hit the outside of the post, Geremi's free-kick deceived Robinson to give Newcastle the lead and, having just forced Robinson into a smart save, Viduka ushered in Owen for the third. Barton sent Martins galloping clear to apply the coup de grace.
Keegan cannot understand why Fabio Capello omitted Owen from the England team against France - "When the big games come, Michael will play," he ventured - and there was an element of disbelief about what unfolded here.
"You dream about playing like that and being 4-1 up away from home with 10 minutes to play, but the reality is that it's difficult to get into those situations," he said.
Best simply to enjoy them when you can.
