"In the first half we were in third gear and never even got into fourth. Then suddenly we got into overdrive. After that it was amazing that we only scored four goals - we gave the crowd a feast.

"It would be nice to play like that for 90 minutes but you have to win the battle before you can win the war. Once the second goal went in it was finished as a contest and we went on to enjoy ourselves.

"We could finish the season the way we started - with 11 straight victories. I know it's a dream but it's one we are capable of achieving. If we can go out for the rest of the season and play like we did in the second half, there is no reason why we cannot do it.

"It would be lovely to think we could win the lot and go up in style. That's what we will be aiming for and we have the ability. It would need some great defending and our fair share of luck - just like we had at times at the beginning of the season.

"It was a nice debut for Andy Cole. He got a terrific goal and he showed his electric pace. At 21 years of age he is still learning. There is a lot more to come.

"I wanted him to score even more than I did myself on my debut at St. James' Park. When the club have invested double its previous transfer record on a player I think is right for the club, you desperately want him to succeed.

"But it is easier signing a player to bring into a side like this. I told the lads, 'don't think about what Andy can do for you, think about what you can do for him. Lads like Lee Clark looked to be trying to make a goal for Andy more than they were trying to score themselves.

"The spirit and attitude in the side are great. Every lad we have brought in has given us something else. And when you look beside you and see players like Gavin Peacock and Mark Robinson on the bench, you know the club is going the right way. I am in a position where I can rotate the players now.

"We also have players who have left us for Premier League clubs because they couldn't get in our side.

"Robert (Lee) can be anything he wants to be. He has vision, ability, uses the ball excellently and has a lot of strength. He can't be pushed off the ball easily.

"Having been at one club for so long, he has had to work it out of his system. There were fears about how well he would settle, but he has settled brilliantly and it has turned out to be a dream move for him.

"He is a sensible lad and a great trainer. The fans love him, yet he has won their respect in a quiet way rather than milking the crowd like some players do.

Coach Terry McDermott:

Andy could prove to be the new Supermac. It was a big step up for the lad and he was a little bit nervous in the first half but he showed in the second half what he can do and the fans certainly took to him.

Andy Cole:

"I badly wanted to score a goal and I struck the ball very well. It was one of my best (finishes) of the season. It was nice for the crowd but even nicer for me. In your first game you are trying to set the standard for the future.

"We played very well in the second half, I was very nervous in front of 30,000 people - I have never played in a crowd that big for a league match and the atmosphere was brilliant.

"Something big is happening at this club and it can be even bigger when we get into the Premier League."

David Kelly:

"A total of 80 points was enough last season (for promotion) and it remains to be seen whether it will do it this season, but it will still be nice to get there.

"The main objective is to actually get promoted, then we can start thinking about going up in style.

"We said before the game that Notts County were fighting for everything and they would make it difficult for us - that's exactly what happened in the first half.

"The gaffer said it was the mark of a very good team who could play 50% below their best and still be leading at half time.

"We stepped up a gear in the second half and I thought I had scored when Lee Clark put me in, but the ball bobbled past the post.

"I got my first a couple of minutes later though and that was a great build-up for my second from Clarkie."
 

They Said

Mick Walker (Neil Warnock's assistant until his exit in January) said:

"If you allow Newcastle to play like we did in the second half, they will destroy you.

"They have got some very good players. We allowed their full backs to play and you can't do that against Newcastle. Once they were two up, they looked a very, very good side."

 

Stats

Newcastle beat Notts County at SJP for the first time in five attempts. 'Pies in Toon - all-time: 1992/93 Won 4-0 D1 1990/91 Lost 0-2 D2 1980/81 Drew 1-1 D2 1979/80 Drew 2-2 D2 1978/79 Lost 1-2 D2 1975/76 Won 1-0 LC 1934/35 Drew 1-1 D2 1926/27 Won 8-1 FA 1925/26 Won 6-3 D1 1924/25 Won 1-0 D1 1923/24 Lost 1-2 D1 1919/20 Won 2-1 D1 1914/15 Drew 1-1 D1 1912/13 Drew 0-0 D1 1911/12 Won 3-2 D1 1910/11 Won 2-0 D1 1909/10 Lost 1-3 D1 1908/09 Won 1-0 D1 1907/08 Drew 1-1 D1 1906/07 Won 4-3 D1 1905/06 Won 3-1 D1 1904/05 Won 1-0 D1 1903/04 Won 4-1 D1 1902/03 Won 6-1 D1 1901/02 Won 8-0 D1 1900/01 Won 2-0 D1 1899/00 Won 6-0 D1 1898/99 Lost 1-2 D1 1896/97 Drew 2-2 D2 1895/96 Won 5-1 D2 1894/95 Drew 2-2 D2 1893/94 Won 3-0 D2 David Kelly found the net for the fifth successive game. There was a first goal for Andy Cole, who became the 13th different Newcastle player to score in the league this season:   Bracewell 2 Brock 1 Carr 1 Clark 6 Cole 1 Howey 1 Kelly 19 Lee 8 O'Brien 6 Peacock 12 Quinn 2 Scott 2 Sheedy 3 OG 3

Waffle

Following a home draw with Charlton Athletic and a defeat at Swindon Town, United returned to winning ways in style at St.James' Park on Saturday.

That slight stumble had given hope to pursuers West Ham, but four goals without reply maintained a five point advantage over Billy Bonds' boys and moved Kevin Keegan's side a step closer to the Premier League.

Having made his debut from the bench the previous weekend after a £1.75m move from Bristol City, record signing Andy Cole gave home followers a taste of the goal prowess that saw KK browbeat John Hall into splashing the cash.

While Cole opened his account fellow striker David Kelly continued his fine scoring run and there was an assist for recent arrival Scott Sellars.

Biffa