Monday morning update: We are still top, make the most of it.
What goes round comes round then eh?
Newcastle United finally get one over Bolton and it really couldn't have been any sweeter.
The Toon were easy winners against Bolton and they even finished Saturday night at the top of the table.
Yes, perhaps Bolton should have been called Big Sam Wanderers during his eight year stint at the Reebok because they couldn't cut the mustard wthout him.
However, let's not get too cocky, it's only one game and surely the giant that is Newcastle United should not have had to wait six years to beat Wanderers on their own patch.
But the truth is we did.
This time though, Bolton were really beaten at their own game, or shall we now say old game given that Sammy Lee's intention is to try and play football on the deck this year.
Yet there was none of the pretty stuff on offer by United at the Reebok and you have to say who cares?
Goal one came from a wicked Charles N'Zogbia free-kick, goal two arrived after James Milner had pumped in a high cross before Oba Martins still managed to make it look pretty with the overhead kick and the second break away strike by the Nigerian was the result of Steven Taylor pass that missed out the midfield.
End result of this was a 3-0 cushion at the break and only a complete capitulation in the second half standing in our way of getting three very important points.
This time the surrender didn't happen.
OK, Nicolas Anelka pulled one back but United looked solid and after the Frenchman's strike early in the second period, they never looked like getting through again as the Toon shut shop.
As far as the debut boys performed, well David Rozenhal would have loved to have capped it with a goal but admitted afterwards to the Press boys he hadn't touched it meaning Zoggy grabbed a much needed goal.
Geremi, or skip as he is known now to his team-mates, pulled the strings in the middle and is so far looking a fine choice as captain.
Mark Viduka blew hot and cold but still went down a treat with Toon fans with a good shift and got the United away support on his side early on when he gave them the thumbs up after they chanted his name, the Aussie could be a real hit in Newcastle this season but still has more in his locker
And what about Alan Smith?
The ex-Leeds ace didn't hold back and proved he has the bottle to drag his side through the season with a dogged display.
Big Sam also showed exactly whose army he's with too when he responded to the "Big Sam giz a wave" chants in style on a triumphant afternoon for the travelling fans.
Have Newcastle United finally got a few genuine battlers in their side?
Big Sam certainly thinks so and with Brazilan star Cacapa, highly rated Spaniard Jose Enrique and Michael Owen still to join the party, it's all looking up again.
Ah yeah, there's also still 19 days left until the transfer window closes for business and Big Sam is still on the hunt for more new blood.
Happy days...for now.
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