When Kevin Keegan ranted how he would "love it" if we beat Manchester United to the title, you just got the feeling that Fergie's comments at Old Trafford about teams "trying harder" against his side than against Newcastle had well and truly got under the Messiah's skin.

Now as Newcastle go into their most crucial stretch of matches in the second tier and with West Brom starting to falter it would appear Di Matteo is indeed attempting to give it the Fergie treatment.

Here's is Di Matteo's craic today: "I have been saying for a while now that it is probably going to go down to the last few games."

The last time Newcastle United played in this division Barnsley suffered a hiding on Tyneside and there were plenty of similarities in the 6-1 thumping at St James' Park.

Yes, Barnsley had just 10 men and lost their first choice keeper on a day when they were equal to the Magpies for most of the first half.

But once Newcastle had the bit between their teeth, there was no doubt that this was going to end up being a real, real rout.

For those of us old enough to remember the old Gallowgate scoreboard had a simple message in the 92/93 season when we hammered the Tykes 6-0 and it read back then: Pure Geordie Magic.

THE Toon take on the Tykes this weekend, and I'll be at the game to bring you live coverage from another pivotal moment in United's season.

Barnsley will provide a tough test for the Magpies, especially as they need to pick up more points if they are to have any chance of reaching the play-offs.

But with the black and whites riding high at the top of the Championship, we'll all be hoping we can send them back to South Yorkshire empty-handed.

I'll be at St James' Park to bring you all the colour and action from the game, and I also want you to take part as well.

To get involved, just come back here from 2.45pm or click below to set a reminder.

Note:

1. FA rules say I can only talk about the game at certain times.

2. We get thousands of people on here each week, and cannot publish every comment.

3. We can't publish links to illegal streaming sites so don't even ask.

4. Enjoy the game.

We don't normally make a day of it in these parts but did you know that tomorrow is officially the 17th anniversary of "the one that got away" for Rob Lee against Brentford.

Chewing the fat with Lee this week certainly made a few memories start flooding back to a golden era where Newcastle United seemed capable of taking on the world.

There's enough memories of Lee alone to write a book but interestingly this week while talking to colleagues about some of the great goals bagged by the Londoner that Toon fans seemed to love, there was a recurring theme.

And it wasn't talking about his hat-trick in Antwerp, or his blinder against Nottingham Forest or his header at Wembley against Chelsea - it was indeed that 'goal' against Brentford.

As Newcastle United continue to mount an impressive tilt at football's second tier title undoubtedly memories of the last time the Mags (for those of us who remember) will start to flood back.

Let's get one thing straight, getting back to the Premier League is the be all and end all of the 2009/10 season for Newcastle, regardless of how they do it.

But while memories start to filter through our minds of the 92/93 season, certainly, the Newcastle United of then and now are very different.

Could you say that the football has been as entertaining as it was 17 years ago - or in the circumstances did it ever really matter?

Anybody trying to make a meal of Mike Williamson and Alan Smith's heated exchange at Watford must lead a placid and sheltered life.

When Will Hoskins netted a late goal for the Hornets Smith wasn't backwards in going forwards in telling Williamson what he thought and that had the recent signing made a more convincing clearance to start with then the goal would not have been scored.

The fact that it did not only cost Newcastle a clean sheet but with two minutes left of stoppage time made it a nervous end to a game the Magpies had never looked like doing anything other than taking three points.

Well, would you bet against Newcastle United now?

Despite a long barren run on the road, the Magpies ended it in real style today with a great all round team performance at Watford.

The scoreline may look slender but really the game should have been done and dusted long before the injury time strike from Will Hoskins.

WHAT have Paul Gascoigne, Bob Moncur, David Beckham, George Best, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Theo Walcott all got in common?

Answer: They are all FA Youth Cup winners.

Last night at St James' Park the latest generation of Toon young bloods made a significant step to joining them after seeing off Crystal Palace in goal packed game.

Remember the last time we won a league game at Watford?

As a young lad delivering papers around the concrete jungle that is Shiremoor, the morning Newcastle United travelled to Watford a native proclaimed: "They've had it if they don't win today mind."

He had a point.

An ageing Newcastle side were struggling to make the cut in the old Second Division.

Turn the clock back to the 1990/91 season.

St James' Park was far from the world class venue it is today, Sunderland were in the above division with Mackem misery to come in abundance on final day relegation at the old Maine Road, Mick Quinn was a God on Tyneside with a bandage on his right hand (caused at the time by supposedly making a corned beef sandwich) the old Appleby Park was still standing in all its glory in North Shields and Whitley Bay FC romped to the HFS Loans League Division One title with John Carver and Paul Ferris as star players, those were the days!

You could even watch Saint and Greavise before you set off for the match and Paul Gascoigne was probably the best player on the planet!

They say you should give credit where it's due and that was certainly the case for Chris Hughton against Preston North End.

Quite some time ago, I asked Chris Hughton if he was a bit upset that he hadn't enjoyed more recognition from Newcastle fans in the form of a terrace anthem.

Hughton quickly dismissed the idea and moved on to a different subject, his view being that he'd rather see all energies projected on to the 11 players on the pitch.