This was a game we would undoubtedly have lost 2 months ago - and yet we won 3-0. That is a measure of how far we’ve come under KK.

Reading started brightly, and we really struggled to get on top, principally because we couldn’t a grip on midfield. This was where, for me, the team showed real bottle, fighting their individual battles, and and battling for each other - refusing to allow Reading to get a firm foothold in the game, until genuine class could come to the fore.

We scored against the run of play with a typical Oba Martins goal - which must have been a dagger to Reading’s heart - and we never looked back.

A 2nd goal just before half-time, well created by Beye, and superbly put away by Owen - although he looked as though he may have been marginally offside to me - effectively ended the game as a contest, and we got well on top in the 2nd, although to be fair Reading never lay down.

Essentially a good team performance, with players playing for each other, but some good individual performances. I wouldn’t really like to single out anyone in particular because no one put in less than a good shift.

David Edgar filled in for the injured Steven Taylor, and started nervously making a few errors. However, supported by Beye and Faye, he played his way into the game, had a good 2nd half, and overall his peformance was very satisfactory.

The relief around SJP this afternoon was apparent, and everyone went home happy at a decent performance, and in the knowledge that Premier League footy has been secured. Let’s hope this is the last time we have to endure this kind of torture.

Thank you! Thank you very much King Kevin Keegan for a wonderful birthday present just a day after my big day yesterday. The lads are also awesome today, you guys make us all very proud of you.

In a thunderous atmosphere at fully packed St. James’s Park, Newcastle making three wins out of three against Reading and to add more of joy, YMO scores again for his fourth in 4 games. Martins also scores, his second in two games. Viduka? Oh yes, he’s also in the scoresheet too

In the game where Keegan’s first signing Lamine Diatta was included for the first time among the United substitutes since his arrival on Tyneside last month, Toon young Canadian, David Edgar is making his first start for Toon this season to replace Taylor who was absence because of food poisoning.

Newcastle quickly start to dominating the game as soon as referee Lee Probert blew the kick-off, with an early free-kick from Geremi in just two minutes of play resulting the first corner for Newcastle. Geremi’s delivery gets the attention of Edgar who headed the ball home just being cleared by Reading defender.

The ball fell to Barton who produces Toon second corner as his rebound took off the shins of Shorey.

More than 50,000 Toon Army are no need to wait any longer than 18 minutes before they see the first goal for Newcastle. Nicky Butt delivery to Oba Martins on the left with a crossfield ball. Martins takes full advantage as Reading’s Liam Rosenior taste the St. James’ slippery wet grass.

Oba continues his run into the penalty area and aware of the challenge from Andre Bikey and gets away from him before finishing his solo past Hahnemann with delightful right-footed strike from 12 yards. That’s his ninth of the season. A deafening celebration is starting there ladies and gentlemen!

After that goal? Well, you can imagine that without I have to mention it here, we are enjoying the game very well with Reading busy defending. No chance at all for them to create any real chances that can harm us. In fact, we should have the second goal in 37 minute.

New born again Joey Barton and Nicky Butt once again switches play between them, these two are really combining very well in Toon midfield recently, and when Barton found himself in space on the left side of the field, he crosses a first-time shooting for the near post where Viduka dummies it for Owen who’s arriving from midfield, Owen connects it, but his eight-yard effort inches wide of Hahnemann’s goal.

Nevermind that, because Toon skipper is really in the mood and still hungry for more goals to show the England gaffer that he is still England’s best striker. Owen nets his fourth in four games for Toon as he scores in 43 minute from the angle of the six-yard area.

It was coming from a delightful chipped pass ball from Habib Beye. Let me tell you some stats, Michael Owen is the second Newcastle United player who has scored in four consecutive premier league matches since Alan Shearer doing it in the 2003/04 season. Congratulations Mickey!

Newcastle held to their two goals lead until the first-half ends. And the same full attacking display is displayed once again in the return of second-half. We deservedly get the third goal in an hour mark. This time, another Toon striker producing a fine finish from a great attacking scenario from the midfield.

After failed to score in an effective performance against Spurs last Sunday, Mark Viduka is not in the mood to end today’s game empty handed. He gets in on the scoresheet with his close range finish after making a clever one-two with Habib Beye inside the area.

Kevin Keegan makes all substitutions in the second-half as he taken off Mark Viduka and bring in Damien Duff in 74 minute, the Aussie receives a fabulous standing ovation from the Toon Army as he goes off the field.

Five minutes later, it’s Nicky Butt turn to receive standing ovation as he comes off for Alan Smith, and in the 82 minute Keegan’s Lamine Diatta handed his debut to replaces his Senegal team-mate Abdoulaye Faye.

TEAMS

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

Reading FC:
Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey, Kalifa Cisse, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, John Oster, Dave Kitson, James Harper, Ivar Ingimarsson, Liam Rosenior, Ulises De La Cruz
Subs: Bobby Convey, Emerse Fae, Shane Long, Michael Duberry, Adam Federici

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 52, 179

This one came form the very old and still the best forum yet over the internet. If you are the genuine Toon Army, you should be there instead of any other forum nowadays, the forum is for those who have the black bones and white blood.

Shay Given
No communication with his back four, and I honestly think Cacapa lost any faith in Given half way through the second half.

Habib Beye
The only player I don’t have anything bad to say about. He’s tidy and nows his position, and can put in a decent cross. Pity there was no one in the team to get on the end.

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