All the talk was of spirit renewed, unity restored, of flesh more willing than it was just a fortnight ago, and last night in the Army Stadium in Sofia, Newcastle United justified the claims with their first victory in five months, their first on foreign soil in five years. Much more of this and Bobby Robson will be hailed as a Tyneside messiah - another one.
It could be argued that Newcastle's first triumph since the FA Cup semi-final in April, 15 games ago, was achieved against a disappointingly ordinary side, but what cannot be denied is the discipline and confidence Robson has supplied in his 13 days in charge.
Both features were evident throughout a highly competent performance and once Nolberto Solano had curled a beguiling freekick over the Bulgarian wall six minutes after half-time, the outcome was never in doubt. Temuri Ketsbaia, who replaced Duncan Ferguson after only 17 minutes, added a second 13 minutes from the end and the scoreline leaves the second leg as close to a formality as these things can be.
Robson will also hope the result gives Newcastle heart for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday to St James' Park on Sunday. "We've finally won a match," said the beaming manager afterwards. "And for the players, that's very important. We didn't let them take the initiative. I thought Gary Speed and Robert Lee played very well and they did the donkey work that gave Kieron Dyer the room to enjoy himself."
Notably, given the criticism Alan Shearer has received recently, Robson praised his leadership and movement. Robson was particularly pleased with the clean sheet.
Prominent early with a series of slick, pressure-easing passing movements, Lee and company neutralised any potential Bulgarian aggression quickly.
Before the 20-minute mark Nenard Lukic had made a telling save from a powerful Speed header. Ferguson had limped off by then and the substitution signalled a brief transferal of momentum to the Bulgarians.
Steve Harper may not have made a save in the 90 minutes, but that was only because the ferocity of Milan Petkov's 25-yard half-volley in the 25th minute took the ball soaring past him and onto the crossbar. Then, in first-half injury time, Vladimir Manchev peeled away from Dabizas and his diagonal lob beat Harper, but also the far post.
Once Newcastle would have wobbled, but instead they came out and were soon ahead, Solano converting after Dyer had been fouled. Then Ketsbaia delivered the second, cutting inside his marker and clipping past Lukic.
CSKA SOFIA: Lukic, Kremenliev (G. Ivanov 61), Mrkic, Trentchev (Litera 56), Sarac, Petkov, Velikov, Tchomakov, Mantchev, Hristov (V. Ivanov 56), Berbatov. Subs Not Used: Paskov, I Ivanov, Kovacevic, Antonov. Booked: Petkov, Mrkic, V Ivanov.
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Barton, Goma, Dabizas, Domi, Solano (Hamilton 84), Speed, Dyer, Lee, Shearer, Ferguson (Ketsbaia 17). Subs Not Used: Karelse, Robinson, Beharall, Hughes, McClen. Booked: Domi, Barton, Dyer. Goals: Solano 51, Ketsbaia 77. Att: 25,000.
Referee: Juan Rocca (Spain).
