Newcastle Boss Over the Moon

Hugo Viana was the hero, with his 42nd free-kick, to give Newcastle at least 4th place in the Premiership.

Birmingham's Matthew Upson was sent-off for the free-kick after fouling Craig Bellamy, a decision which was criticised by Blues boss Steve Bruce afterwards.

He (Steve Bruce) said, "The frustrating thing is the linesman, who's 10 yards away doesn't do a thing, he doesn't wave, he doesn't flag, he doesn't do anything, and Mr Elleray gives the decision from 50 yards away.

"He sends somebody off and there are 55,000 people here today watching a game of football and it just spoils the occasion, it spoils the whole game.

"I thought it was more clumsy than anything else. He (Bellamy) looked to me as if he was running away from goal not towards goal, so there's all sorts of debates and questions.

"It's Mr Elleray's last game. I'll say no more."

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson said, "We've lost two at home - Leeds early on when we played well and lost, and Man United when we played pretty miserably and got bashed.

"But we've recovered. We had a little blip, There was a lot of anxiety about the place - not within the players, but around as always happens - but we've stood firm in the last two games.

"It's not easy and here we are, with one game to go, we can't be beaten. I just think it's marvellous. I think it's been a good season for us.

"When you think we've played 14 extra games this season in the Champions League, we've done well. Some players here have run miles, miles, hundreds of miles.

"I honestly believe, had we beaten Man United here three Saturdays ago, we always felt within the dressing room that we might even nick it.

"We weren't going to talk about it, but we lost and on that day went our chances. But we've recovered and we've revived ourselves and finished third."

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