It had reached the point where even the Newcastle United players probably didn't expect to return to Tyneside from their trips to London with three points.
When they travelled to Highbury for a Premier League clash against Arsenal on this day in 2001, they hadn't won in the capital city in 30 attempts - a run that dated back to 1997. Consequently, they were rank outsiders to claim a positive result against the Gunners.
Therefore, it was little surprise that after Nwankwo Kanu had spurned two presentable opportunities, the home side broke the deadlock. Ashley Cole kept Thierry Henry's acrobatic cross alive and when he turned the ball back into the penalty area, Robert Pires was on hand to convert from close range.
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Arsenal continued to create openings as the half wore on, but with two minutes to go until the break, they were reduced to 10 men. Midfielder Ray Parlour had already been booked for a clash with Newcastle defender Nikos Dabizas and when he tripped up Alan Shearer, referee Graham Poll reached for the red card.
Even after the restart Arsene Wenger's team were in the ascendancy, but the game swung Newcastle's way in the 58th minute courtesy of a tactical alteration from their manager Robson, who introduced Lomana LuaLua and Laurent Robert into the action. Within two minutes, attacker LuaLua had made an assist when his corner was turned into the net by centre-back Andy O'Brien.
Twelve minutes later Newcastle lost their one-man advantage when Craig Bellamy was handed a second yellow card following a collision with Cole, but it failed to deter the away side from ending their London hoodoo.
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With four minutes left to play Robert raided into the Arsenal area, only to have his route to goal blocked courtesy of a foul by Sol Campbell. Shearer stepped up to beat Arsenal's stand-in goalkeeper Stuart Taylor from the spot. The outcome was then sealed in stoppage time as LuaLua released Robert, who had time and space to slot the ball in from 18 yards out.
It was a win that moved Newcastle to the top of the Premier League, although after the match Robson doubted their ability to be there come the end of the season: "I still don't think we will win the championship but we will challenge those who think they can win it." Meanwhile, a disappointed Wenger added: "If it had been 11 vs. 11 we would have won this game comfortably. We lost a lot of energy when we were playing with 10 men."
It would in fact be the last time that Arsenal lost during that campaign as they went on to win the title by seven points from Liverpool, with Newcastle ending up fourth.
ARSENAL: Taylor; Lauren, Campbell, Keown, Cole; Pires, Parlour, Vieira; Henry, Kanu, Wiltord
NEWCASTLE: Given; Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Elliott; Dyer, Solano, Bernard, Speed; Shearer, Bellamy
Liam Apicella
