We may not involve as a contender in the title race this season or somewhere near in one or two years to come. But, I’m glad we have taking part in 2007-2008 championship title race between Manchester United and Chelsea, as we will meet one of them next Monday night fixture.

Our first meeting with Chelsea this season was ended with bad result for us. We have been controversially lost 2-1 by an offside goal, and put more pressure to the former manager. But for the next home fixture against the London team, Kevin Keegan is ‘deadly serious about trying to beat Chelsea’.

“The one thing that’s important for me is that we get the chance to test ourselves against one of the big four.” Keegan said, “I don’t think it’s our cup final, it’s Chelsea’s cup final and our chance to see how we’ve progressed. But it’s a game I’d like to win.”

The same feeling also expressed by our Cameroon international Geremi. He is determined to help Newcastle to victory against his former club.

“It’s the last game at home, in front of our fans, against one of the big teams,” he said. “We’ve been playing well in the last few weeks and it’s a big opportunity to send a message, it’s a big test for us to see how far we can go.”

From our last 14 home meetings in premiership encounters with them we have won seven times, three draws, and lost four. In 2004/05, Geremi’s own goal gave us 1-1 draw, while the last win against them at home was in 2005/06 with a goal from Titus Bramble.

Fortunate Newcastle United avoided the frist defeat in Keegan’s last seven matches at the hands of West Ham, in a day where we were once again the poor side for the first 40 minutes.

The home side had an early goal from Mark Noble before Dean Ashton added their second in the midway of first-half. But, the relieving Toon gaffer would have to thanks his African squad members after Martins and Geremi get us back in action in the last 2 minutes of first-half.

I also consider we’re the lucky side too when Uriah Rennie refused to award a penalty for the home team when the ball hit Michael Owen on the hand.

“I would sooner be a lucky manager than a good one,” Keegan said. “For me, Alex Ferguson is a very lucky manager, but unfortunately not today.”

It looks like Keegan will have to think any other possible options for our next fixture at home against Chelsea. To be honest, starting from our last week game against the mackems, we have been less impressive if not bad performance. Yesterday, Harper’s distribution was so bad, and forced Keegan to had Fraser Forster warming up after 25 minutes.

The 33 years-old stopper, although not being superior in distributions, have a decent save when he deny Ashton’s rasping shot 10 minutes from the end, while a last-ditch save by Green from Martins ends the second-half with no further goals from both team.

“I have never handled a player quite like Martins,” Keegan said after the match when asked his opinion about Martins, “He does fantastic things and he is more of a team player now.”

A draw means we have lost a great chance to climb up above Spurs after they also only have a draw against the bottom rock team Bolton Wanderers.

West Ham United:
Robert Green, John Pantsil, George McCartney, Lucas Neill (c), James Tomkins, Julien Faubert, Mark Noble, Scott Parker, Bobby Zamora, Dean Ashton
Subs: Nobby Solano, James Walker, Carlton Cole, Hayden Mullins, Luis Boa Morte

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, David Edgar, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Joey Barton, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka
Subs: Fraser Forster, Damien Duff, Lamine Diatta, Alan Smith, Andy Carroll

Referee: Uriah Rennie
Attendance: 34, 980

Kevin Keegan has insisted again that he and Dennis Wise has nothing to proof when talking about which transfer list that could act for Newcastle United. Keegan admits they both have a list of targets and he is “happy” and will be personally checking out Wise’s list.

King Kev also made it clear that if they bring players in who are not my players, I wouldn’t be managing this football club. He said there is only one list that will count and said that Dennis, Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere are here to give him the lists and had put a clear note that the final decision would be on his hand.

As for the latest Luka Modric transfer saga, Keegan said that he is one of the player who’s been identifying by him and Dennis. But, Keegan has told yesterday that the chance to sign him is slim and could be happen in a fantasy football. Today’s news reported one of Toon target, Luka Modric, has signed a 5 years contract with North London team Tottenham Hotspurs.

At the moment, Keegan is hoping that every Toon Army would have to be sensible and be realistic with any news about United’s potential targets.

More of the summer transfer possibilities, Keegan will be looking at ‘risky signings’ for less money, while at the same time he is refused to losing out to the big four. Keegan said there will still be enough ‘big names’ out there. But one thing that is beyond any possibilities, He will think twice to sign any players from South American country.

While still managing Manchester City, Keegan having had his fingers burned by signing Argentinian striker Matias Vuoso, but for United he will do a global search with Dennis Wise team and working together with them to find the right players to play for Toon next season.