When Kevin Keegan was unveiled as the new manager of Newcastle United, it was described as the return of the Geordie "Messiah". Newcastle turned to former boss Keegan, who had the team challenging for the Premiership summit last time he was in charge, in the hope that he could revive their fortunes. There were the doubters (like this blogger) who viewed Keegan's appointment more warily.
Yesterday afternoon Matt Derbyshire's last-minute goal gave Blackburn Rovers victory over Newcastle, providing more ammunition to those doubters and piling further misery on Keegan's team, who now haven't won a Premiership match since the middle of December.
One can't lay the blame for the team's decline at the present manager's feet (by most accounts Newcastle were unlucky to lose yesterday), but their slide towards the relegation zone is as perilous as the recent woes of their sponsor, Northern Rock.
Can Keegan still turn Newcastle around? Will he be able to re-energise the club with the trademark swagger and panache that nearly won them the 1995-96 Premiership title, when he was in charge? Watch this space....
Newcastle 0-1 Blackburn
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