Simpson insists he doesn’t want to leave St James’s Park after admitting he won’t play in a bigger game than the Tyne-Wear derby.
Danny Simpson: “I’m loving every minute of it.
“It’s games like that (the Tyne-Wear derby), which make you want to be a footballer.
“I said to one of the lads afterwards that, for me, I don’t think I’ll ever play in a bigger game than that in terms of the atmosphere and what’s at stake.
“It’s not just about the three points, it’s what it means to the fans and the club, and I don’t think I’ll ever play another game with that kind of intensity.
“You can feel the fans urging you on, and you can’t do anything else but keep going until you get that goal.
“Every tackle, every header, it’s like they are kicking it for you, so you know what it means to them.
“When we got that goal last minute I don’t even remember how I celebrated. I just went mad.
“I know the fans probably wanted the win, but at the end of the day we’ve took four points off Sunderland again this season.
“I think they (the supporters) must have loved the second-half performance, even though we created chance after chance and it wasn’t going in.
“I’m sure they loved the commitment and the determination of the players.
“Even after we missed the penalty, we kept going, and then Shola’s come on and nicked a goal which was reward for our efforts.”
WIN A COPY OF - "Magpies In Europe"!
It features match reports and individual features from Toon fans on Newcastle's 120 European games ... including eye witness accounts the 60 'away' trips the Mags have made in Europe.
Sports Journalist Richie Everson: "At last a book that the fabulous Newcastle United fans can relate to. It's informative, all the facts and figures are there, plus the 120 match reports from all the fixtures ... but it is the articles by the supporters that amazed me.
"I went to many of those games, and this is the only book I can honestly say 'hits the nail on the head'!
"Yes we know the results and the scorers, but some of the facts in this book had me so wrapped up in it I couldn't put it down.
"Was Benny Arentoft cup-tied when he played in the final? Big Wyn and his battle with John McGrath; McFaul scoring a penalty when the crowd had gone home; the trouble in Palermo; it is all amazing stuff.
"I would honestly give this book 10 out of 10."
MAGPIES IN EUROPE From Antwerp to Zurich Price: £9.99 (including post) The book is available NOW! Please include your address in a letter and send a cheque (or postal order) for £9.99 payable to Mr K Fletcher, to:
'MAGPIES IN EUROPE', K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Co Durham DH7 6NU.
WE HAVE THREE COPIES TO GIVE AWAY
Simply answer these three questions:
1) What year did Newcastle win the Fairs Cup? 1969, 1979 or 1989?
2) When Tino Asprilla (pictured right) scored his hat-trick against Barcelona, who was the Newcastle manager? Joe Harvey, Kevin Keegan or Kenny Dalglish?
3) Our last European game was against AZ Alkmaar. What country are they from? Turkey, Holland or Belgium?
Send your answers (with your name) to:
E-Mail: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
Winners will be drawn on Friday March 9th.
Good luck!