1996-97 Season - December

The match was a knife-edge for most of the game as neither side could find a way through with the lively French visitors (including Robert Pires) guilty of passing up several decent opportunities.

It was left to United's enigmatic Colombian - whose previous three goals had also all come in Europe - to convert a quick fire brace [80, 82] and take United through.

The first was a stooping header , the second a cool flick with the outside of his right boot after he had broken through the faltering French resistance.

He also managed to pull a hamstring and get booked for one of the best ever goalscoring celebrations ever witnessed at SJP as he demonstrated sound Blue Peter skills by creating a flag out of the corner flag and his shirt.

Les Ferdinand returned from injury to replace Asprilla and Watson took suspended Batty's place for the game against bottom club Nottingham Forest. The match ended goalless; the first time that had happened for 74 matches!

Both sides had chances to score and a ring rusty Les could easily have had a hat-trick whilst Frank Clark's Forest wasted a plethora of chances.

Two more points lost for Keegan's misfiring stars but he preferred to view it as a point won and we actually moved up to 4th.

Monsieur Ginola, now starring in an advert for Renault, was dropping hints about leaving at the end of the campaign even going as far as suggesting he may become a rally driver.

The Sky Blues had replaced Forest at the bottom of the table and once again The Magpies were humbled. To make matters worse Darren Huckerby (sold by United in November) scored the first [6] and set up the second for McCallister [31]

Shearer pulled one back with a brilliant diving header just after the hour [61], but that was the end of the scoring

The following day the club unveiled its plans for a new £65 million stadium on Castle Leazes Moor. It was envisaged that it would have an initial 55,000 capacity that could be extended to 70,000 at a later date. Crucially planning permission had not yet been sought and it was thought likely that there would be substantial opposition.

They also announced that the club would be floated on the stock market to help finance the plans.

"The money coming into the sport is massive" said Hall. "If you live in the past, you die in the past".

League leaders Liverpool were the next visitors to Tyneside and although it was a much improved performance United were still struggling to find their fluency.

After Peacock had cleared off the line in the first 10 seconds Shearer put the home side ahead [28] after Ferdinand's header had been tipped onto the bar by James. Fowler grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

The result meant United dropped to 6th and remained seven points behind the Scousers although with a game in hand.

Ginola and Gillespie both picked up injuries.

Batty returned from suspension to face his old team mates at Ewood Park but there was no Christmas cheer as a Kevin Gallagher overhead kick fourteen minutes from time condemned United to a sixth defeat of the season and a seventh successive winless game in the Premiership.

It was a bruising encounter in which seven players were booked and United failed miserably to create any decent chances.

Keegan's post match conference was short and far from sweet and he ripped into the players after the match with Les Ferdinand in particular (according to Keegan's autobiography) getting a rough ride.

Srniceck and Elliot were the fall guys and just at the moment everyone was writing off their title chances United bounced back in some style by thrashing Spurs 7-1.

With Keegan allegedly rushing home to be with his flu stricken wife it was left to Terry Mcdermott to proclaim "we're certainly not out of the championship race and you write us off at your peril".

Ferdinand, Lee and Shearer all helped themselves to a brace whilst Albert [79] got the other. But for a brilliant performance by Ian Walker it could easily have been double figures.

Tottenham got an 88th minute consolation.