Looking after number one

ALTHOUGH it is one of the most obvious and widely recognised truths in football - that a goalkeeper's good reputation is more fragile than any of his team mates' - it is also the one most frequently overlooked.

Make half a dozen important saves and the goalkeeper is praised by fans and managers alike as "the man who kept us in it". Follow that with a howler that leads to a goal and he is castigated more than any defender with five timely tackles and a mis kick.

It does not seem fair, but sadly for Pavel Srnicek that's the way it is. For over an hour on Tuesday the Newcastle goalkeeper kept his hands warm in the cold north east of France with a clutch of saves that suggested he was a man in form. Twice long shots from Didier Lang were dealt with comfortably, as were efforts from Robert Pires and Amana Traore.

But then, just as he had done in Budapest in the last round against Ferencvaros, Srnicek relapsed. On that occasion Horvath was given a simple tap in with the Newcastle goalkeeper yards outside his area and on Tuesday, in Metz, Srnicek made a similarly unnecessary charge towards Lang's curling cross. Again he misjudged and was left flapping as Traore twisted to head home.

Peacock's intense, frustrated reaction as he ran back was no doubt repeated in every Geordie living room as well as in the Newcastle dug out.

Kevin Keegan was forced into an analysis of the moment that was remarkably like the one he gave in Hungary. "Their goal was not a great one," he said. "Pavel knows it was down to him." What Keegan said next - "Otherwise his handling was good, but a goalkeeper can't afford to make any mistakes" - was particularly pertinent in the context of the Newcastle revolution.

Keegan must be acutely aware that the £60 million of other people's money that he has invested in players is in danger of being undermined by a goalkeeper he inherited from Ossie Ardiles.

Yet we must presume from the fact that Keegan bought Shaka Hislop at the beginning of last season that he saw flaws in the 28 year old Srnicek. Hislop, however, has only started one league game this season - the first, at Everton, and he under performed. Srnicek has since been number one.

It will be interesting to see if Keegan is prepared to risk another right Metz on Saturday at Slamford Bridge.