Maths simple for soccer's Super Sunday

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): As the whole of England waited for soccer's Super Sunday and the culmination to the title race, there was still the small matter of Thoughtful Thursday to be settled.

A day which was disrupted mid-morning with the news from the Football Association that Chelsea manager Glen Hoddle had accepted its invitation to become the new England coach.

Ten hours later the focus changed from country to club as Newcastle United put its title aspiration on the line with last away game at Nottingham Forest that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Team news saw Asprilla, replaced in the closing stages against Leeds, remain on the bench, with Keegan returning to his early season selection of Ginola and Gillespie on the flanks.

For Forest, out of the running for a UEFA Cup place, it was all about professional pride.

On a bitterly cold evening on the banks of the River Trent, Forest made a bright start. Brian Roy should have scored in the opening minutes courtesy of a handling error by Shaka Hisklop.

Building tidily and looking an altogether different proposition than against Manchester United, Forest, with Woan down the left and Roy on the right, continued to cause the visitors problems.

Yet it was Newcastle and 35-year-old Peter Beardsley who set the massed ranks of traveling Newcastle supporters singing in the 32nd minute.

With Batty providing the pass, Beardsley dribbled at pace from right to left into the penalty box before unleashing a powerful left foot shot past Crossley and into the roof of the net.

His 11th goal of the season, Beardsley is seeking to add a third championship medal to the two he won during his Liverpool days.

Newcastle dominated the remainder of the half and should have scored another as Ferdinand volleyed over from six yards in the last minute.

With a more balanced appearance than it had for several weeks, Newcastle continued to press in the second-half. In-form David Batty was again impressive in prompting much of the team's forward movement.

Indeed, Newcastle was unlucky not to go two up in the 67th minute as a cross from Elliot was headed against the bar by Ferdinand.

Eight minutes later, however, a mistake by Batty inside the Forest half enabled Ian Woan to recover the ball and run at the Newcastle defense before unleashing a 25 yard left foot drive into the top corner.

Seventy miles away, Manchester United fans rejoiced.

Led by Batty and the tireless Beardsley, Newcastle again went in search of the winner. Albert could have won it in the last minute, so too Woan in injury time, but at the final whistle the score remained 1-1.

With just 90 minutes of football left in the championship, the mathematics are simple. Newcastle must beat Tottenham and hope that Middlesbrough beat Manchester United; any other combination of results and the title will go to Manchester.

The team news from Old Trafforf for Super Sunday is that Steve Bruce will miss the game on Teeside. A hamstring, injured in the defeat of Southampton, is still causing problems.

In light of the five goal thrashing of Forest last weekend, it is likely that Manchester manager Alex Ferguson will keep the same side. This will leave expensive striker Andy Cole on the bench, the center-forward position again entrusted to Paul Scholes.

The game against Middlesbrough will bring United face to face with favorite old boy and former club captain, Bryan Robson. So long the driving force in United's midfield, Robson left Old Trafford to commence his managerial career.

As the fates decree, he and his Middlesbrough side, boasting Brazilian flair in the form of Juninho and Branco, now stand between United and its third title in four seasons.

Forty miles north of Robson's riverside Stadium stands St James' Park, home to Newcastle United.

Newcastle has won 17 of its 18 home games this season. The one loss was, crucially, to Manchester United.

The visitors on Sunday, Tottenham, with Sherringham and Armstrong up front and the fit Darren Anderton to provide the class out wide, possess all the ammunition and intent to make it a dismal end of season for Tyneside.

All is not lost for Newcastle. Speculation now centers upon whether this remarkable season may yet hold one final twist of fate come Sunday afternoon.