Going Up?

After last night`s fantastic victory at Sheffield United I felt something that as a fan of Newcastle United you don`t get to feel often. I felt proud of my team. They gave a performance that was so full of guts and character that for the very first time this season I genuinely feel that we will secure promotion.

From front to back every single player gave everything they had, (barring late substitute Marlon Harewood who looks like he would need a firework shoved up his backside to break into a sprint). Steve Harper was absolutely superb in goal and the defence was marshalled brilliantly by the inexperienced Tamas Kadar and the returning Fabricio Coloccini. Even Jonas looked interested at times last night.

There can be no doubt that after all the turmoil that continues off the pitch that the players are doing us proud on it.Kevin Nolan has emerged as the focal point of the team and a real leader. He was relatively quiet last night but it was still his crunching tackle that led to the somewhat fortuitous goal.

Alan Smith also gave a typical battling performance in the heart of the midfield. It is this kind of grit and determination that was missing from last season`s woeful performances. Smith seems to thrive on the hustle and bustle of Championship football and long may it continue (Smith`s performances, not Championship football).

When we came down to the Championship many opposition fans seemed to think we had an overinflated opinion of ourselves as a football club. Like we felt we were too good for the Championship. This was evident at the Sheffield Wednesday game earlier in the season when I heard more than Wednesday fan offering comments along the lines of "who the f**k do Newcastle United think they are?"

We are Newcastle United, who the f**k are you? We are going up and nothing is going to stop us now.

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