Newcastle chief issues title warning to rivals

And as he prepared for today's visit of Manchester United, Robson predicted that a Magpies victory would spark the most exciting month of his St James' Park reign.

After writing off his side's chances of overcoming United and Arsenal following the defeat at Everton, the Newcastle manager believes they are just one win away from turning the championship battle into a three-horse race.

With Arsenal in FA Cup action tomorrow, Newcastle can close the gap on the top two to just three points in this lunchtime's Premiership clash.

United visit Highbury on Wednesday, and the Magpies are buoyed by the knowledge that they have a simpler run-in than their title rivals.

Robson has presided over an at times exhilarating chapter in Newcastle's history since returning to the North-East in September 1999.

The right result today, however, would leave the 70-year-old dreaming of a glorious climax to the season that would surpass his St James' Park achievements thus far.

Robson said: "A win would set up the most exciting time of my management here. If we win, we're back in it; if we lose or draw, we're out of it.

"It's a game that, if we have any chance of creeping back into contention, we have to win.

"That's why I was so angry about losing the Everton game, but you have to ride these body blows and get on with the game.

"On paper, we have what appears to be an easier run-in to the end of the season than United and Arsenal.

"United's next two games are absolutely hot for them. If they win them, they should win the League.

"But teams haven't found this an easy place to come to and there's such a thing as horses for courses in football."

Robson's optimistic noises about Newcastle's lingering title hopes were backed up by Shay Given, even though the Goodison loss knocked the goalkeeper's confidence that they would finish ahead of United and Arsenal.

Given said: "If we win this one we'll have a shout again, but we've made it more difficult for ourselves.

"A draw wouldn't have been the worst result at Everton, but it was a big disappointment to get beat.

"We'd be three points behind Arsenal and United with a win, and it's good for us that they've got to play each other next week.

"It's out of our hands, but if we can win against United you never know."

Robson confessed he was responsible for Sir Alex Ferguson deciding not to retire last summer - but insisted he had foreseen the Scot's change of heart.

Ferguson was due to step down from the Old Trafford hot-seat almost a year ago, only to sign a new contract that will extend his reign until the end of the 2004-05 campaign.

The United manager has since admitted he was persuaded not to quit by the example set by Septuagenarian Robson, who said: "I spoke to Alex last season and he said: 'I won't be like you.'

"I said: 'Wait and see. Wait until it gets near the time you won't be working, and see how you feel. I don't think you're a different animal to me.'

"When he got close to retiring, all sorts of people were being bandied about as possible replacements for him. He won't have liked that. He'd built a good team, and having put that together he thought: 'Why should I give it up?'

"If you don't have the stomach for the fight any more, you pack it in. But clearly Alex has that.

"I don't think he'll go to 70, but I think he'll see out his three years."

Robson has already vowed to "do somersaults" should Newcastle come fourth again this season - "I've been practicing them," he claimed yesterday - but he would now be unhappy to end up outside the top three.

Chelsea are four points adrift in the race for third spot and Robson is desperate to ensure they do not overhaul the Magpies.

"I'd be disappointed to finish fourth because finishing third would mean we'd made an improvement, which is what the players would deserve," he said.

"To move up from fourth to third is far more difficult than jumping one place at the bottom. It's not easy to oust people near the top.

"I always thought we were capable of finishing in the top six because we're up against top teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and so on.

"If we could finish third and then second next season, it would be a massive improvement because we're amongst the cream.

"We won't have gone backwards if we finish fourth, and next season our younger lads will have an extra year's experience."

* Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Manchester United 'shouldn't be ashamed' of their performance at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

It wasn't just the potentially fatal 3-1 defeat which left United feeling down, more the way they were so comprehensively outplayed by a side packed with major world stars.

Yet, ahead of their crunch Premiership trip to Newcastle today, Ferguson doesn't believe confidence within his squad has been affected by the mauling and, in 35-goal striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, claimed they had one of the best players on show in the Spanish capital.

''My team shouldn't be ashamed of their performance on Tuesday,'' he said. ''They have taken part in a fantastic game of football. You won't get another game as good or as intense as that. All the Real Madrid players said afterwards they had not had as hard a European game.

''We have looked at the video and in terms of the attacking we did very well. We controlled some periods of the match and their first two goals came on the counter-attack. In European football your concentration has to be 100 per cent. You can't afford to make mistakes.''

''But, for a period in the first-half the players were a little bit mesmerised with some of the stuff Real played. A lot of it didn't hurt us but it was marvellous to watch.''

However slender their hopes are, United deserve credit for still having an interest in the second leg and they are also aware that with van Nistelrooy in the side, they are never without hope.

The prolific Dutchman took his tally for the season to 35 in Madrid, just one behind last year's mark with six Premiership games remaining. ''You can't believe how much improvement he has made,'' said Ferguson. ''There were two great players on the pitch on Tuesday, he was one and Raul was the other. For forward players, the two performances were absolutely outstanding."

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