Given gets the shock of his life

By Matthew Jones
September 14 2002

Our man Shay has been shocked to find that his team are next to bottom in the Premiership. The only team below them, is West Ham, who got Hammered by the Toon 4-0. Newcastle's only win so far this season. Given realised, when he turned on his tv after getting back from Leeds midweek...

Magpies super-shot-stopper Shay Given has admitted that he had the shock of his life when he realised that his team, Newcastle United were in the relegation zone in the Premeirship league.

Shay returned home after the midweek defeat by Leeds and switched on the television to find the Magpies with just West Ham beneath them - the only team United have beaten, back in the season's opener.

Given said: "I nearly had a heart attack when I saw we were second bottom. It certainly made unpleasant reading.

"OK it is early days and we have a game in hand over most clubs but we certainly didn't want this.

"But it doesn't really feel like we have made a bad start because there have been a lot of positives.

"Against Leeds their keeper Paul Robinson was the man of the match so we must have done something right."