We have probably all been guilty in the past of criticising Celestine Babayaro commitment to the cause at Newcastle United, mainly because of the number of pulls and strains he picks up while picking up such a hefty wage packet at St James's Park.
But there is genuine good feeling and admiration for the Nigerian full back after he decided to play in the 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday just hours after the death of his younger brother.
The loss of a loved one can do strange things to people. Some like to be left alone to mourn, others like to carry on as usual as that is what the person would have wanted.
Celestine was one of the latter and while I would still like to see more fight and dedication from him in his everyday work, I think he deserves a huge amount of credit for the way he has conducted himself over the last few days.
It was difficult for supporters who did not know about his circumstances before kick-off not to moan and groan when he passed the ball poorly or was beaten too easily for Liverpool's first goal, but they will surely appreciate what he has done for the side now that the situation he was in has been revealed.
In actual fact, this was one of Baba's better showings on a pitch which was awful for defenders to try and judge passes, headers and just about everything else needed to play football. Hopefully, having proven he does want to play football, we can see a lot more of him between now and the end of the season.
As for the win over Liverpool, I know a lot of Liverpool supporters - remember in the eighties they were like Manchester United and had glory-hunting supporters all over the country in that skin tight red or yellow Crown Paints kit - and all I can say is, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (breath) ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! How'd you like them apples and can I have my stereo/hubcaps/wallet/curly haired wig/shell suit back please?
Crude regional stereotypes these are I know, but I've always enjoyed seeing Liverpool lose. It gives me a warm feeling inside and normally leads to lots of crowing phone conversations with above mates. Sadly, as Leyton Orient were stuffed 5-0 at Bournemouth at the weekend I don't feel like doing much crowing in case they bring that humiliation up.
An uneasy truce has been called.
Anyway, if it had not been for the rain, mud and Craig Bellamy's typically erratic finishing, Newcastle would probably have been out of the game before half time. But they weren't and, in the second, I honestly feel Newcastle were the better side once Oguchi Onyewu and Titus Bramble got to grips with the gobby Welshman with the big teeth and even bigger ego.
Talking of the little pest, the treatment shown to Bellamy was not nearly as hostile as I'd imagined before the game.
There were boos, of course, and "Bellamy what's the score?" chants once it became clear Liverpool weren't going to equalise, but there was also still admiration for the former Newcastle player and, dare I say it, appreciation of what he brings - or rather what Newcastle are missing - to the side.
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