Wrong Side Of Bed

Caretaker Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder was sick of seeing his side regard the season as being over when they crashed out of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge.

His response was to rattle a cage or two and kick a few backsides. The result was three first-half goals and an end to a run of four successive defeats.

Roeder: 'Thirty-eight games - that's when the season ends. That's what I've always believed. What a shameful thought, to pack up and go home with seven games to go. I didn't hear players saying that, but I heard people around the place saying 'they have got nothing to play for, they won't be motivated'.

'I can't have that. After the result last Sunday against Charlton, they have seen a different Glenn Roeder this week, a Glenn Roeder they probably think has got out of the wrong side of the bed every morning.

'But I got the response I wanted. They have shown they need a kick up the backside sometimes. This is a good squad of players, there are decent people in this squad, but even decent people sometimes need a toe in the right direction, and they certainly got it.

'We got the response because I would say that's the best first-half performance while I've been involved; Terry McDermott goes a bit further because he's been involved all season, and he says it's the best 45 minutes all season.

'I'd better keep getting out of the wrong side of the bed!'

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