Winter of discontent abates for a while for boss Souness

These words could easily reflect the current feeling of Newcastle manager Graeme Souness regarding his uneasy tenure on the St James' Park throne.

The words laid the groundwork for the portrait of Richard as a discontented man who is unhappy in a world that hates him.

Souness could be forgiven for sharing a certain empathy with the much-maligned king, given the current climate on Tyneside.

There were more chants calling for his dismissal at Cheltenham at the weekend, but this time the songs were heard coming from opposition supporters rather than the travelling faithful.

The United boss insists he feels no pressure at all despite the club's disappointing campaign and countered questions regarding his future - the latest linking England manager Sven Goran Eriksson with his post - by admitting he felt he was in a 'very fortunate' position.

He said: "I have had problems but I think I'm very fortunate. You don't do a job at any big football club unless you can handle these things.

"I go back to my days as a young player at Tottenham. I learnt about myself very early on.

"I found out what I was made of. I have always been confident in my own ability.

"I honestly don't fear the worst about anything in life, except perhaps that something could happen to my family.

"My daughter Lauren wrote her car off last Thursday and that's the biggest fright I have had. She is OK. These are the things which are really, really important.

"The car is in a bad state, although I haven't seen it myself. She was in tears. She pulled out of the drive and there was a car parked which started up. She was suspicious and looked over her shoulder and she smashed into a wall.

"But when I leave the house and I know that my family are settled and doing what they should be doing, I always give my best for whoever is employing me."

Souness also revealed that he has the backing and support from his players.

He said: "My players are 100 per cent behind me.

"I have a group of players who, if they are all fit, are capable of giving anyone a game. I have never had anything like my strongest team available but as a manager I have to believe that we will turn the corner.

"When I signed a contract here, I signed it in good faith and my intention is to honour that contract until the very last minute of the very last day, unless I hear anything different."

Saturday afternoon's live TV FA Cup fourth round at Whaddon Road had all the necessary ingredients to provide a classic giantkilling cup tie.

The Robins had recorded only two defeats in 20 games; a Premiership side lacking confidence and form; a hard, frosty and cramped ground with a swirling wind and, a Sunderland supporter (Craig Armstrong) playing for the underdogs ready to stick the boot in, as the nation watched from their armchairs.

Fortunately for Souness, Lady Luck looks to have finally flashed her toothy grin in his direction as the ingredients seem to have curdled in the west country kitchen drama.

Newcastle survived a first-half penalty appeal when the inept Jean-Alain Boumsong appeared to have pulled down the impressive Kayode Odejayi after only four minutes and their two goals had an air of good fortune surrounding them.

Odejayi made United's passage through to the next round of the competition somewhat uncomfortable, however.

The 23-year-old Nigerian tormented Boumsong throughout the match and should have capped a memorable performance with a goal 13 minutes from time when he superbly rolled the Frenchman before rounding goalkeeper Shay Given in style.

Unfortunately, the Robins' striker couldn't apply the coup de grace and the end product finished in the stand.

It was unquestionably the Boumsong's worst performance in a black and white shirt.

He couldn't put a foot right. He turned his back on the play when defending set pieces, got too close to his marker on several occasions and his positional play would have embarrassed a schoolboy.

Souness admitted his central defenders did not have the best of days and added that the conditions may have played a contributory factor in their performances but he is backing his £8m defender to bounce back and shine in this summer's World Cup for France.

He said: "I know at times they (Boumsong and Titus Bramble) looked shaky but so did our opponents.

"Yes, they are from a lower division, but the conditions were difficult for defenders.

"They are big boys but I will defend them to the hilt. I think Jean-Alain Boumsong will prove to be one of the best central defenders at the World Cup this summer.

"Titus is playing with injections every game and he didn't train last week because he has had flu."

The tie was a scrappy affair and United had to soak up a large amount of Cheltenham pressure in the early stages especially, but just about deserved their victory.

Newcastle, who should have had a penalty themselves when Peter Ramage was felled by John Finnigan on the half-hour, took the lead four minutes before the half-time break when Michael Chopra netted his first FA Cup goal from close range. Alan Shearer, Nolberto Solano and Celestine Babayaro were all involved in the lead up to the opener.

Parker added United's second two minutes later when defender Jeremy Gill deflected Ramage's cross off the United midfielder's chest to effectively kill the tie as a contest.

Whaddon Road may have looked like a battlefield but ultimately Souness wasn't to suffer the fate of Richard on Bosworth Field at the hands of his executioner Henry VII.

The United chairman, who denies there is any truth in the story linking the current England boss with Souness' post, will no doubt play Henry Tudor's role at some stage in the future but, the return to fitness of Emre, Parker and Kieron Dyer may prolong his rule on Tyneside.

l Freddy Shepherd has laughed off claims that he contacted England coach Eriksson about coming to St James' Park in the summer.

A News of the World report yesterday claimed Shepherd had sent a text message to the Swede.

But Shepherd said: ''I must have amnesia as I can't remember sending a text message to Mr Eriksson - in fact I don't even have his number so I'd love to see this message.

''All I can say is that I'd like to wish Mr Eriksson well with England in the summer, and good luck for whatever he chooses to do after that.''

Cheltenham 0 - 2 Newcastle United

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