the winner takes it all?

billed as "The most important football match in the history of the world EVER!" (TM Adrian Chiles, BBC) this Tyne-Tees derby could have been a damp squib, a useless draw which would help neither team.

The two young managers, Shearer and Southgate were colleagues in the England squad in the 1990s and used to sing ABBA songs in karaoke contests together (hence the corny post title). Both manage teams on the brink of relegation, both work hard, both need points.

Newcastle always like to put on a show and the crowd were given free black & white flags to intimidate the opposition.

But after only 3 minutes Boro had taken the lead (with an own goal) and in the past this would have been enough to make Newcastle to collapse- but not tonight. Within 6 minutes they had equalised. (Taylor).

It was exciting end-to-end stuff. The most influential player on the pitch was Aussie veteran Mark Viduka who made a lot of the play for his team and harassed Middlesbrough's defence (which was ironic as he used to play for Boro)

In the second half Obafemi Martins (J1's fave player) took the lead in the 71st minute. St James' Park erupted. Boro tried to get back into it, they did not give up, but in the 86th minute Lovenkrands got the third goal for Newcastle and it was game over.

So, it's a good 3 points for Newcastle, it has taken them out of the drop zone above Hull and now Hull have fallen into the bottom 3 (on goal difference), the first time they have been there this season.

So why is a Sunderland fan like me cheering on our fiercest rivals?
Well, my hubby, my son, my in-laws and my Mam are all Newcastle fans so I don't want to see the Toon relegated, I just want Sunderland to do better than them.

I went to Newcastle University and I loved it. I love the bounce and zest of that city, and D & I had our first flat there.

So I listened to 5live, tweeted, knit a bit, had a glass of Shiraz (as close to Shearer that I could get!! A bottle of Newcastle Brown ale would have floored me!) and enjoyed the drama and excitement-and so did at least 50,000 people at the match.

I don't think Southgate will be singing ABBA karaoke tonight though, poor guy.

Not unless it's Under Attack.