Reid and Robson show no fear

FA PREMIERSHIP: Worried that they are in charge of two teams who, between them, have gone over seven and a half hours without scoring? Not these two.

Worried that they have conceded 13 goals between them in that time? No, again, not these two.

Worried that success for one will immediately up the pressure on the other? No, still not these two.

"Six games have gone," chirps Bobby Robson at St James's Park, "and it's not how you start, it's how you finish. It's a good song that, by the way." Twelve miles away in Sunderland Peter Reid says in his best Scouse: "You might think I'm mad but it's certainly one I'm looking forward to. I'm bringing me monkey." Laugh-in followed laugh-in in the north-east yesterday. The storm that has been building slowly on the horizon felt a blue sky away as Robson and Reid did their utmost to remain positive in the face of negatives.

Both men, Reid in particular, know that people are already discussing who comes after them.

There are many in Sunderland who want Reid's successor to be found quickly and appointed at once. On Tyneside, fewer are thinking post-Robson, though the man himself raised the issue a few weeks ago. He will be 70 next February.

Both men also know that this fixture has recent relevance when it comes to north-east managers losing their jobs. Just over three years ago Reid sat in the visitors' dugout at St James's and watched as a downpour of Biblical proportions initiated Ruud Gullit's exodus from Tyneside back to Amsterdam. The man who replaced Gullit was Robson.

As the punters' page of the Sunderland Echo testifies, many Wearsiders think Reid will have to make a similar departure if this lunchtime goes badly wrong. "My prediction is Newcastle 2 Sunderland 0 and the last game in charge for Reidy if it's more," wrote Stuart Porter in yesterday's edition.

Porter was not alone and it has been like this for weeks and months but Reid was defiant as well as upbeat. "I've seen a couple of things in the papers saying it could be curtains for me if we get beaten," he said. "That's not something I can really comment on but, believe it or not, I'm not going to sack myself. I know the importance of the game. It's one for the supporters. They don't come any bigger."

Reid chose not to draw a parallel with Gullit but if, as seems likely, he picks Kevin Kilbane on the left then Reid will be making the same sort of controversial decision that Gullit made in 1999. Kilbane has not played at home since giving abusive supporters the fingers in pre-season.

Kilbane's inclusion would be nearly as provocative as Gullit's decision at the start of season 1999-2000 to omit the club captain Robert Lee from his squad and then leave Lee's best mate, Alan Shearer, on the bench against Sunderland. Beside Shearer that night sat Duncan Ferguson. On the pitch in their place was 19-year-old Paul Robinson, a Sunderland fan now at Grimsby Town.

When Kieron Dyer put Newcastle ahead it looked as though Gullit was gaining the vindication he sought. The Gallowgate chanted Gullit's name, not Shearer's. Lee was so fed up he did not go to the game and stayed at home drinking red wine, watching Teletext. He switched it off when he saw Newcastle were 1-0 up.

But things turned and, when Lee switched back on, Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips had put Sunderland into a 2-1 lead. Gullit, sensing the changing tide, threw on Shearer and Ferguson.

But it was too late for Newcastle, though not for Gullit to claim that the side got worse once Shearer and Ferguson went on. That remark resulted in Ferguson's rather large boot going into Gullit's office door the next morning. Another 24 hours and Gullit was out of the club. Robson sat in Ipswich and waited for the telephone to ring. It did.

Robson orchestrated the Geordie resurrection which led to Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday. Last season Robson coaxed Shearer, Shay Given, Aaron Hughes, Dyer, Gary Speed and Nolberto Solano into their best year at the club. The £6million purchase from Coventry, Craig Bellamy, was a revelation.

Robson added the exciting Portuguese prospect, Hugo "Hughie" Viana, to that side but none of the above septet has matched their form of last season. "We're back to where we started when I came here," he said before flying to the Ukraine. He meant literally, as in second bottom, but Newcastle are unrecognisable from then. Juventus visit soon. "Wonderland," cooed Robson yesterday.

However, there is one position the manager has not addressed, one that has undermined Newcastle for decades - centre-half.

Where Arsene Wenger acquired Sol Campbell, Gerard Houllier Sami Hyypia and Alex Ferguson signed Rio Ferdinand, Robson bought Andy O'Brien and Titus Bramble. One or the other partners Nikos Dabizas, signed by Kenny Dalglish. None of the three has that physical and spiritual leadership quality.

It could undermine Robson - just beginning to get the sort of punters' page criticism Reid has taken for months. Robson said recently that it was time for the assumed prince, Shearer, to get his coaching badge but Shearer has no immediate plans to do so. He has another two years on his contract and wants to play on. Shearer would probably quite fancy playing against Newcastle's defence.

"You don't let the enemy invade your land," said Robson. "That's why castles were built. And we're New-castle. It's a good line that."

Newcastle v Sunderland

12.0 St James's Park

Sky Sports 1