BLOG ON THE TYNE WEMBLEY SPECIAL
Lee Ryder reports from Wembley
It's no fun getting beat off Germany but for many Newcastle fans they got the result they wanted here at Wembley tonight.
And that was Michael Owen, Alan Smith and Steven Taylor all getting through it without getting hurt.
OK, Taylor didn't even get on but hey that means nothing does it?
After all his shoulder did pop out while on international duty back in 2005 with the Under 21s when in training - but they all sailed through a nervous week.
Thousands of England fans held up cards to spell DANKE FOR 2006 ahead of the clash at Wembley but the travelling Toon fans just couldn't agree.
Don't forget the World Cup last year cost Newcastle United their season last year and probably Glenn Roeder his job when Owen shattered his knee in Germany.
OK, you can't blame the Germans for the turf he landed on - but there aren't any good memories about Germany for most of the Geordie branch of the England supporters club - who watched Owen's fitness hopes and United's dreams of last season go down the pan the minute he was stretchered off at the World Cup.
And tonight for some was nothing more than a nervous evening of hoping nobody that usually wears black and white ended up black and blue.
Thankfully Stuart Pearce did United a favour last night by playing James Milner for no more than the last quarter which judging by the Romanian Under-21s treatment of Theo Walcott can only be a good thing.
And like Milner they all came in safely tonight too.
Owen - who forced a good first half save out of Jens Lehmann went off unscathed on 56 minutes last night and was quickly followed by Alan Smith.
After the hour mark there was a moment of pride for Toon fans though with Steven Taylor warming up for the first time for the seniors but it was the closest he would get to the field as the substitutions ran out for the United Academy product.
All in all a decent night for Newcastle who can prepare for their clash in Teesside with the Toon's Three Lions all in good shape.
Oh and by the way that seven million quid we got for Kieron Dyer looks like a better bargain by the minute after the ex-Toon man missed two decent chances in the space of a couple of minutes last night against the Germans.
In the end boos for McClaren but a slight smile for Toon fans.
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