By Mark Deeks
October 25 2002

BLACKBURN AWAY. OCTOBER 19TH. MArk Deeks thrills us with his account of this game. We lost 5-2 but Shearer gets his 301st goal. Must be something to celebrate.. BLACKBURN AWAY. OCTOBER 19TH.

Blackburn's not far from me here in sunny Wakefield. I fully intended to go. Then I saw the Champions League ticket prices. What is it with Newcastle? £20 a time and they'd have filled SJP for those games, and I'd have had enough spare cash to follow the boys to Ewood Park. But no....

Anyway, so it was the mutual joys of Radio Five Live and TV highlights for me. First things first. I don't want to get too depressed about this result. It's a long time since we've had a real spanking at the hands of anyone, and considering we managed to get to 2-2 with an half an hour to go is quite decent considering the state of affairs when Dabizas was given his
marching orders after 4 minutes!

Secondly, well done Super Al! I know the official line is the records don't matter to you and you'd rather have had the three points and I understand that. But really Al, well done son! Imagine the tally without the injuries and it's frightening. Still the best in the business, and there's no one I'd rather have leading the Toon frontline.

Like I said, I didn't get to the game, but from the reports of North West Corner Legends Dougie and Janice, Robert was up to his old tricks again with watching people drift past him and pulling out of tackles. Bobby, pick Viana. Please. Please. I know it wouldn't be his natural position but the kid is fantastic. And his workrate excellent.

So not really a lot else to say about it is there? We got a spanking, Super Shay looked less than what we've come to expect, but these things happen. I honestly don't read too much into this one. The top six still beckons. Till next time.....