Since there’s nothing interested me to write or about to give my opinion recently, I was looking around to find any interesting videos to post in here. I have found one which is related to my Great Matches page.

This video is about the magnificent 7 goals festive against Tottenham Hotspurs. The game was played on December 28, 1996, the year when we were one of the title contenders. The great cavalry team with delightful attacking style under the mighty mouse King Kev.

You can read the match review on the great matches page.

FA premier League, Saturday December 28, 1996 - St. James’ Park

Newcastle and Kevin Keegan in particular, needed a festive-season boot at a difficult time in the Club’s Premiership history, and poor Spurs felt the full force of the Magpies goal machines.

United had gone seven games without a win and their title challenge has faded, but this seven goal romp suddenly changed all that.

Tottenham’s defence crumbled and surrender immediately when Alan Shearer held off some challenge from Carr and Calderwood to hit a right-foot volley over Tottenham’s Ian Walker. Three minutes later the floodgates of the Black-and-White stripes started to open.

Peter Beardsley’s shot was diverted by Les Ferdinand into stranded Walker’s net to give the Magpies two goals lead at half-time.

Later on the second-half, in just thirteen minutes John Beresford running up on the left touchline before sending delicious cross to Les Ferdinand to make his second of the game. United’s fourth goal coming in rapidly and was a truly fine goal.

Rob Lee ended his long run from midfield and enter the Spurs penalty box without any significant challenge from Spurs defenders before driving the ball low into the left far post of helpless Ian Walker from 15 yards.

The fifth goal was a historical moment for Newcastle United. Philippe Albert leave his post to join the Magpies neverending attack. He finds himself alone in the area when received the ball from Rob Lee. With Alan Shearer lurking on his right, waving for the cross.

Albert sees the opportunity, and he drilled it under the arms of Walker to make it five nil to Newcastle as well as the 6,000 League goals for Newcastle United.

Shearer got his second in the closing minutes when he volleying home David Batty’s pass from a close range. Rob Lee, wearing his number seven jersey completed the goals parade with his second and United’s seventh of the day after another Batty pass pick him on the edge or the box.

Spurs got their consolation goal in the dying moments through Allan Nielsen advancing Hislop’s saved from Teddy Sheringham effort and Beresford’s failure to secure it.

Terry McDermott said after the game, “Apart of the goals, we had a lot of other chances and the score could have been doubled.”

He is right about it, Alan Shearer at least have five chances to score including the one on the last seconds of injury time. But after all, it was the perfect game to end one of United’s good year in Premier League.

UEFA Cup Round 2, October 29, 1996 - St. James’ Park
Asprilla (41, 58), Ginola (64), Ferdinand (90)

The champions of Hungary were 3-2 up on the first leg and was visiting St. James’ Park with highly hopes to coupe something from the homeside with their home win advantage. But Newcastle United was giving them a very hard night to forget, and was thrilled by the entertaining displays from the Lads at Gallowgate Ends.

Kevin Keegan fielded his experimental line-up, and pushed the Newcastle side to get the winning at the fortress of St. James’ Park. Keegan fielded only 3 defenders at the start. His adventurous tactics worked like a dream come true for the home side.

The first half turns into a one-way traffic on the Hungarian side of the field. They have defending desperately to hold on their first leg lead. David Ginola, Tino Asprilla and Les Ferdinand are continuosly threatened the visitor defensive side.

The visitor succeded to hold the neverending attack for the first 22 minutes. The real chance came in our way when Tino was being fouled inside the penalty area. But, it was something that many Geordies felt to be a frustrating night when Peter Beardsley struck the post from a penalty kick.

But, it was Philippe Albert headed down a corner from Gillespie in 41 minutes to give Tino Asprilla an opportunity to sweep the ball home from a close range.

In the second-half, Tino once again make it 2-0 for the Geordies side when he once again taking the advantage from Sarren Peacock knock-down ball. The scoreline makes Newcastle go ahead with 4-3 on the aggregrate and another goal would secure the evening for Newcastle to step up to the third round.

The third goal come in as a top drawer. Gillespie fired corner kick was cleared by the visitor defender to the edge of the box where Ginola is waiting. He controlled the ball with his chest, lifted it over the challenge before struck a looping volley into the top-right hand corner. It was one of the best goals ever seen at Gallowgate.

Beardsley, Asprilla and Robert Lee could all found the net, but at the closing stages, Warren Barton low cross find Ferdinand who slid the ball into the net. The game was end with a 4-0 win and 6-3 on aggregate. Kevin Keegan has done it again with his typical entertaining attacking style.

Team line-up:

Newcastle United:
Srnicek, Peacock, Albert, Elliott, Batty, Gillespie (Barton), Ginola, Lee, Beradsley, Asprilla, Ferdinand.
Subs not used:
Watson, Kitson, Clark, Hislop

Ferencvaros:
Szeiler, Telek, Kuznyecov (Arany), Hrutka, Nyilas, Szucs, Miriuta (Zavadszky), Jagodics, Nagy N, Horvath (Hollo), Nicsenko.
Subs not used: Nagy T, Simon

Att: 35, 470