FOOTBALL is all about naked emotion - and yesterday Newcastle United player Laurent Robert proved the point.

After what was expected to be his final game for the club, the winger stripped down to his underpants to salute the crowd at St James' Park.

Elsewhere, nerves jangled and fingernails were bitten down to the quick as Middlesbrough secured European football next season.

Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler fluffed a last-minute penalty, which allowed Boro to finish seventh in the Premiership, putting them into the UEFA Cup.

Also celebrating was North-East footballing legend Bryan Robson, now the manager of a West Bromwich Albion side that pulled off the most remarkable escape from relegation in the league's history.

Robson, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, guided the Midlands outfit from bottom place at Christmas to fourth from bottom on a dramatic last day of the season.

Many sides had much to play for going into yesterday's games and Boro knew that a point at the City of Manchester stadium would be enough to secure UEFA Cup football.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink put Boro into the lead, but City equalised just after half-time to set up a tense second half.

It seemed as if Boro's resolute defending had earned its reward then City were awarded their last gasp spot-kick.

Fowler's shot was saved by keeper Mark Schwarzer, which means Boro boss Steve McClaren and his team can repeat this season's European adventure.

If Boro went into the game with a decent chance of success, the opposite was true of West Bromwich Albion.

Former Boro boss Robson took over partway through the season, but going into the last game, West Brom were one of four teams that could have been relegated.

No team has ever escaped the drop having been bottom of the Premiership at Christmas.

But with other results going their way, West Brom's 2-0 home win over Portsmouth was enough to keep them up and spark tumultuous scenes at their Hawthorns ground.

The Full Monty - Page 5