Hello! Welcome to the end of season 2 of my Newcastle United save, which started as a short story to see how we coped without Shearer but has evolved into so much more. I’m refusing to buy anybody and just blooding the youngsters. It’s lead to us being involved in the title race and the League Cup final whilst still maintaining an interest in the Cup Winners Cup. Let’s dance.

That interest extends to the semi finals, as our 1-0 with at St James’ is followed up by a 2-1 win in the Portugese capital. We are loving life.

Battle of Britian anyone?

The League Cup final brings no actual reward but it’s against first division Wolves and a trophy is a trophy. Yoink.

The fixtures are coming thick and fast but it’s soon time to meet Rangers. Shearer gets us off to the perfect start before his old mate Gary Speed adds a second. Gillespie and Batty depart injured though which stretches our resources somewhat.

The reason we’ve had such a good run recently is our final league fixtures are mostly all pains in the arse. Little rat Kieron Dyer takes a point off us at Pride Park

Whilst lovely Kevin Gallacher does the same at Ewood. Two future Newcastle players doing their bit to mess us around.

It’s a relief to be back on Tyneside but there’s no let up, as Liverpool are in town. Disco Des puts us in front but we are immediately pegged back before Mr Reliable pops up with the winner. A good Easter Monday.

With 5 games to play it’s very tight at the top. We still have to go to Spurs whilst Man Utd are coming up strong on the outside.

4 games in 7 days will decide out season, a pesky International break in between times.

First though it’s Rangers and Shearer continues to annoy the Scottish, scoring twice and missing a pen which he blazed over the bar. Antti Niemi in goal for that one after Goram’s dismissal. Quite the day, really.

It’ll be Lazio in the final

Lazio who have decided they need Roberto Baggio to beef up their attack…

Uh oh.

Off to Spurs then for a huge game. Klinsmann and Les Ferdinand have been great for them but Peacock and Albert cope admirably with them and Andreas Andersson does the rest. Big result!

That International break arrives and wouldn’t you just know it…

That is a pickle. It’s atrociously timed as it accompanies suspensions for Andersson and Tomasson, with Bjarni the Gud already out for the season. So it’s Rushy and Woodcock against Chelsea.

We’re behind, we’re in front, we’re level. 20 mad minutes bring all the goals but a point, in the circumstances, is not a bad result. But we can afford few slip ups at this stage

Three points behind Leeds. Their run in is ok but they finish at Arsenal, for all we have scored more goals we’ve also shipped far more, it’s going to be tight.

A big win at Sheff Wed on bank holiday Monday at least keeps us competitive. Shearer’s early return is nothing less than I expected from the great man.

Hold on, what’s this?

Yes! Thank you Everton. It’s on!

Just two days later the title rollercoaster is back in action. Man Utd are 5th but have oddly sold Peter Schmeichel to Man City and replaced him with Neil Sullivan. That, you would think, can only help us.

Get it up ya

Leeds win 3-0. But that doesn’t matter. We are ahead by 2 goals. Three really because we have scored loads more.

I watch the Arsenal/Leeds game. Leeds win despite Lee Bowyer being Lee Bowyer. That means as long as we beat Coventry, we are the champions.

Coventry set up with a flat back 9. Thankfully Magnus Hedman is injured and it’s old man Ogrizovic in goal.

CHAMPIONS. You can almost imagine the special 40 page pull out in the Chronicle to celebrate such an achievement.

Kevin Keegan would be proud. Who said attacking football wouldn’t pay off?

We’re not done though, it’s off to Amsterdam – not to celebrate, but for the Cup Winners Cup final.

Lazio though, bloody hell. To make matters worse, we don’t have Brian Pinas who is suspended.

No Pinas no party

We are soundly beaten. I can have no complaints, we’ve won the league man!

Shearer finishes top scorer with 30, though Andersson’s 27 is a great effort.

Plenty of assists from the front 2 as well

The average ratings aren’t really that impressive. Rush only played twice, once against Portadown, so you probably can ignore that.

Nooooo/oh well I’ll get his re-gen

The awards and the football journalists of the world have decided Andreas Andersson is the best there is.

So that’s it, season 2 is in the bag. I think I’ll be back with a third season – we have a Champions League to win!