Or maybe they were right. I don't think Pedersen was the scorer that day. That seems to have been the lineup for the away game later that season. Same result, hence the confusion.

I think it's just the top 25 English managers. McCarthy is English; just one of the reasons Roy Keane hated him. It's fascinating, that lot have managed about one League Cup between them(McClaren), though there are promotions(and relegations) aplenty. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time an English manager rose above mediocrity. It's all hugely entertaining for anyone who's not English I suppose.

A very happy win; Mr Bruce sounds most unhappy after yet another loss. On a more sober note, why was Nelsen taken off at halftime? Hope its nothing serious...

It is. There will always be the favourites that can do no wrong, while others will never be seen as good enough no matter what they do. A bit of grudging praise sometimes for a job well done, then a torrent of abuse at the smallest slip-up. Happens everywhere I think.

Guess it's time for Hughes to go then? Seriously, we could have beat them easily. Newcastle were mostly rubbish but took the few chances they had very well. A painful reminder of how pitifully ineffective Rovers are when it comes to actually scoring. Maybe Mark Hughes could consider a less conservative approach sometimes. Fact is, it probably wouldn't work anyway, considering the poor technical ability of the squad in general. They're best suited to a scrappy 5-4-1 and relying on sheer dumb luck to score a goal. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try though, if we want to rise above that. At least no one will be pinning this one on Emerton. Or Matteo. Or Dickov. Or Amoruso. Or Souness.

Low left foot shot from right wing, some distance outside the box. Poor keeper fumbled it in, like with the Cahill and Chipperfield goals. Not the toughest opponents around but Emerton didn't do that badly. Seemed to give the ball away more than most though. Neill didn't have anything to do playing in the centre of defence. Both played the full 90. Archie Thompson scored a great goal. Probably the only non-European based Socceroo on the field. No more World Cup qualifying matches against Oceanic opponents in Australia.