1996-97 Season - January

Lee Clark was recalled to the side for the first time in 10 weeks.

Shearer got United off to a great start when he blasted home a 20 yard volley after less than five minutes.

Both sides had chances to score and United were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty. But it wasn't until 13 minutes before the end that the next goal arrived; Shearer's effort being deflected past Martyn by Carlton Palmer.

Ferdinand grabbed the third from close range in the 87th minute after he was brilliantly set up by Lee.

United climbed to 4th, five points behind leaders Liverpool.

It was a happy Sunday return to The Valley for Rob Lee who put the visitors ahead with a scrambled effort just after the half hour. United dominated but squandered a hatful of chances.

They were made to pay when 13 minutes from time Kinsella got the equaliser

A Sunday paper had reported on the morning of the match that Keegan had offered to resign after the Boxing Day defeat against Blackburn. When questioned about in the after match press conference he walked out saying: "You know the guy who wrote it."

Two days later and the news Tyneside had been dreading duly arrived; the reign of King Kev was over.

Keegan was gone but the style remained the same. Mcdermott and Cox were put in temporary control.

Shearer bustled through to give us the lead [15th] and Clark lobbed the second after a disastrous slip by Mark Bosnich presented him with the ball.

They continued on the offensive but this allowed The Villians a route back and an unmarked Dwight Yorke pulled one back before the interval

The equaliser came when Hislop could only parry a Staunton effort into the path of Milosovic. They should have won but Yorke's pathetic penalty was saved.

A stunning 100th minute strike from Shearer got Dalglish's reign of to a winning start.

Lee Clark prodded United in front after he was put through by Beardsley [32] but United were guilty of coasting and with the fog moving in they seemed to lose their way.

Ten minutes into the Second Half Robson scored a brilliant and deserved equaliser from a 25 yard free-kick.

The United team was not being slow in demonstrating to Dalglish the negative side of their attacking style. With two minutes left on the clock United were leading 2-0 but ended up having to settle for another draw.

First Maddison capitalised on a Hislop error and then Le Tissier scored one of his obligatory wonder goals in the second minute of injury time.

Ferdinand had opened the scoring [13th] and Lee Clark seemed to have ensured the victory with his third in three [82nd] before the all to familiar late collapse.

Ian Woan hadn't scored for nine months but he was back to haunt The Magpies as he scored two goals in three minutes to stun the home crowd.

Ferdinand rose unmarked to give the Magpies the lead just after the hour mark.

But it was a disjointed performance and once again a lead was thrown away late on with Woan's goals coming in the 77th with a deflected daisy cutter and 80th minutes after a Barton miscue.

Barton and Ginola were dropped and United recorded an unlikely thrashing with four goals in the last 16 minutes to turn the game on its head.

Gary Speed gave The Toffees the lead after only three minutes with a free kick and there was precious little response from the labouring Magpies. Indeed Ferguson missed a couple of decent opportunities to extend the lead .

It was Asprilla who came off the bench to spark the sensational recovery. Ferdinand equalised [74] before Asprilla crossed to Lee who volleyed home [80] and it was the enigmatic Colombian who won the penalty which allowed a bloodied Shearer to send the keeper the wrong way [83] from the spot.

Elliot's dogged persistence got United a fourth in injury time.