Martin Dubravka already has several shining examples to follow at Newcastle after Nick Pope blow
Dubravka now looks set for an extended run in the Newcastle side after Nick Pope's injury blow
John Gibson is a football columnist writing about Newcastle United. Gibbo has been a voice of the Toon for the Chronicle since 1966.
Newcastle incredibly equalled a record which has stood for more than 100 years and again claimed the grateful love of an on-the-march Toon Army for the umpteenth time since Eddie Howe took over residence.
The Magpies had never won three consecutive games over all competitions against Manchester United since the first month of 1922 but, exhausted by relentless effort and jinxed by yet another injury to a senior player, they deservedly smashed not just Man Utd but their army of moaning celebrity camp followers.
Just look who was 'disappointed' upon the final whistle:
STEVE BRUCE, a Geordie who managed Newcastle in their mediocre years, reverted to his true colours forecasting that the club he skippered would beat his home town club 2-1.
ERIK TEN HAG, manager of a rag bag bunch of individuals not a team, had moaned that he "had to rotate" because Newcastle had the advantage of an extra day to recover from their last match. Who is he kidding apart from himself? Look at the bench my friend - Newcastle had two keepers and three academy players while Manchester United had a string of expensive supposed superstars. Howe would have loved the opportunity to rotate. He had started the same 11 for three matches inside a week because he had no one else available to pick!
Ten Hag is a replica of Gordon Lee, a manager who has his favourites, falls out with a posse of top stars, and therefore creates a dressing-room split. He looks like a a man out of his depth.
Marcus Rashford is the latest to show his dissent at the manager without saying a word. Simply through his body language and performance. Anthony Martial is another.
Then finally amongst the celebrity Man U backers there is STEVE McCLAREN, sitting next to Ten Hag on the visiting bench. He managed our United a lot worse than Bruce did so Geordies will love the fact that he had to suffer in his true colours.
What a transformation at Newcastle and how we love it. Exactly two years ago to the day the mess Howe had to clear up was underlined by the fact that the Mags had just totted up a depressing run of 14 games without a victory. They were lower than a snake's belly and so were we.
Now look at us: flying high in the Premier League, still alive in the Champions League, and playing to make the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Honestly consider the raw emotion of a rise from nowhere to somewhere and this is a better story than Rocky!
United have many, many stars who defy logic with the consistency of their performances and their undying desire.. .Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Big Joe, super kid Lewis Miley, and Alexander Isak.
However I would like to highlight their two-in-tandem down both flanks who kill opposition stone dead. Kieran Trippier and Miggy Almiron caused palpitations on the right side while Tino Lavramento and Anthony Gordon tormented on the left. They are relentless.
When you are confronted by two high maintenance wingers like Marcus Rashford and Alejanko Garnacho who think it is beneath them to track back then the opposition have no chance.
Valentino Francisco Lavramento.... ah what a wonderful English footballer! If Gareth Southgate has a better left-back available to him right now - and remember Tino is supposed to be a right-back - then I'll stand corrected. But then is Kyle Walker in better form than Trippier?
Of course there had to be a downside to all this euphoria. Lady Luck is still missing on walkabout. With an absentee list running into double figures Nick Pope was helped off with what looked like a dislocated shoulder which will probably keep him out for a considerable length of time. Par for the course.
It really is beyond a joke. Where the heck are you Lady? What have we done to offend you? However we believe in the cause. The world might be against us but a siege mentally works and so may Martin Dubravka take heart and strength from what Jamaal Lascelles, Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley have done when unexpectedly called into the heat of a constant battle.
They have been supreme, gone above and beyond the call of duty. Two kids and an old stager who have taken care of business like we could never have envisaged.
Livramento and Miley were seen as tomorrow's stars but they have proved they are all about today while Lascelles was written off as yesterday's man. However I cannot speak too highly of his courage and will power to stick around and when the opportunity arose grab it with a vice like grip. Not only has he been mentally strong but his game has improved immeasurably.
Martin, look at those guys and take encouragement. You never let us down in the dark days when you won North East Footaller of the Year, you remain a current international for your country, so step forward and prove that what is happening on the River Tyne is indeed one massive miracle.