NEWCASTLE in living-up-to-fan’s-expectations-shock-horror! Believe it or not, once in generation Newcastle seem to come up with a performance and result that their supporters believe is their destiny.

Today in 1996 Gallowgate’s finest witnessed the high-point of the (first) Kevin Keegan era when they beat Manchester United 5-0 at St James’.

By 1996 King Kev had awoken the Toon from their Second Division slump and had turned them into genuine title contenders. The season before Newcastle had bottled a 12-point lead to finish second in the Premiership, but the summer signing of Alan Shearer surely meant the title was on it’s way to St James’, didn’t it?

The season didn’t start well when double-winners Manchester United thumped the Magpies 4-0 in the Charity Shield. When dealing with KK however, you know there’s going to be more ups and downs than the FTSE.

Manchester United had won the league and cup double the previous season and hadn’t lost 5-0 since October 1984, when Everton did them over at Goodison so the odds on such a score were as long as the faces are at White Hart Lane at the moment.

Peter Schmeichel had gone over nine hours without conceding a goal, but by the thirteenth minute his streak had come to an end, as Darren Peacock opened the scoring. David Ginola added a second, Shearer got the third and then after half-time Les Ferdinand added a fourth.

The Toon saved the best until last, as defender Philip Albert looped a left-footed shot over Schmeichel, putting the 36,500 fans at St James’ well and truly on cloud nine.

Kevin Keegan couldn’t believe his luck. “Undoubtedly the most enjoyable day I have had as a manager”, he said after the game. His only complaint that night was that “the league won’t give us more than three points for it.”

Fergie meanwhile was fuming, describing it as the worst performance of his career. As usual though, the Scotman had the last laugh, as Manchester United finished seven points clear of their rivals at the end of the season to win the title.

See all the goals below and see what else happened today here. We’ll be back tomorrow for more of the same.

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