InterToto Cup place is in Newcastle's hands

Posted by JamesB in InterToto Cup, Newcastle | 7 May 2006

Thanks to the Smoggies drawing with Bolton in midweek, we now have the opportunity to end an up-and-down season with an up and grab a place in the less prestigious InterToto cup.

Bolton host relegated Birmingham today, while United have the tough task of beating Chelsea who lost to Blackburn in midweek. 2 points separate us from Bolton, but their goal difference is superior and if they win, then we also have to win if we want to get our passports out next season. On the plus side, Mourinho has vowed to help England by resting his English players in the run in to the season, meaning we won't be up against Lampard, Terry and co.

Owen will be assessed at the last minute with a view to whether he will be able to take part; the striker felt some pain in his foot last weekend and no decision on his fitness has been made yet, although apparently it is normal to feel something after that sort of injury.

Despite the InterToto place not sounding like a significant achievement, you have to admire our form since Roeder took over, and a 7th place finish would certainly be a stepping stone in the right direction following last years disasterous campaign. Looking luckless and hopeless mid season, noone would have predicted a finish as high as 7th, so it is nice to be going in to the last day of the season with something to play for. In fact Roeder has done such a good job that it seems he is now the chairmans choice to take over full time. Agree with that decision or not, you have to give credit to a man who completely transformed our season, all without our record signing of course.

All games today are a 3 o'clock kick off, and lets hope we can draw the curtain on our season by completing the turn around and beating the champions.