Louise Taylortalks to former Newcastle United players who would not mind rewriting the club's history from 1997 on

Kevin Keegan, Peter Beardsley and Rob Lee all treasure the memory but Alex Ferguson claims it was quite possibly the worst thing that could have happened to Newcastle United. When, more than 11 years ago, Keegan's team beat Manchester United 5-0 at St James' Park, the stage appeared set for years of epic battles between what then seemed England's two principal footballing powers, but they meet again this evening in vastly altered circumstances.

Whereas Manchester United have gone from strength to strength, Newcastle, recently reunited with Keegan, who left the club only three months after that famous victory, are counting the cost of some poor recent managerial appointments and even worse transfer-market buys. It all leaves Keegan in charge of a side now floundering in relegation waters and seeking their first Premier League win since December 15th.

Yet although Ferguson insists the bonfire of his side's vanities in October 1996 sowed the seeds of Geordie decay by inflating Tyneside's expectations to catastrophic proportions, Keegan demurs. "I can think of far worse things that could happen than us beating them 5-0," Newcastle's manager joked yesterday.

"I always remember standing at the top of the steps as the Manchester United players left the ground. The last one out was Eric Cantona and he shook my hand and said 'F*****g good team'. His English was perfect. You've got to enjoy those moments."

Keegan's pre-match message had been equally succinct. "Kevin said what he always said," recalled Beardsley. "Go out, entertain, play football and believe in yourselves."

Anxious to atone for a 4-0 reverse in that summer's Charity Shield, and an arguably unlucky 1-0 home defeat the previous season when Ferguson's side pipped them for the title, Newcastle were thoroughly psyched up. "We ripped them apart," said Lee. "We wanted revenge and got it. Alex Ferguson was very pissed off."

Not that he anticipates the visiting manager's mood turning quite so foul tonight. "I really hope Kevin can get Newcastle back to challenging at the top again and I think he can but it will be really difficult," he cautioned. "The players he has now are certainly not as good as we were."

Indeed Lee maintains Newcastle have never adequately replaced several individuals from that class of the mid-1990s. "I don't think John Beresford's old left-back role has ever been properly filled since Bez's departure," he said. "John was really quick and attacking and typical of the pace we had in that team. We had a lot of players who could really pass well and were able to go past people. We were also all extremely fit and scored goals from all over the pitch. On their day people like David Ginola - Newcastle have never really replaced him either - and Peter Beardsley were unplayable. And up front Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand were unstoppable."

The only thing missing was silverware.

"It's a shame we never won anything because, if we had, it might have changed the way football was played in England. More teams might have become more attacking," mused Lee, who thoroughly eclipsed United's Nicky Butt, now a Newcastle player, in 1996. "But my five years under Kevin were just fantastic. I wouldn't swap those memories for a trophy."

Lee, though, would not mind rewriting history from 1997 on. "It's very sad the way things have gone, because in 1996 we were so close to Manchester United but since then there have been some strange buys and a lack of common sense from a few Newcastle managers."

He trusts Keegan will restore the good times but fears it may be tough.

"The big thing in the 1990s was Kevin was our hero - most of us signed for Newcastle purely because of Kevin. I had Keegan posters on my bedroom wall as a boy and was thrilled to be playing for my idol, but this is a different generation."

If the likes of Abdoulaye Faye and Jose Enrique are rather less likely to be in thrall to their manager, they are also part of a squad lacking the "connectivity" of old. "Our spirit was fantastic. We all socialised and got on incredibly well," said Lee. "That sort of togetherness is really important."

Beardsley agrees, pointing out Newcastle circa 1996 were more resilient than generally imagined. "The thing about the 5-0 was that the first half was pretty tight and the linesman was really brave to judge, correctly, that Darren Peacock's header, and our opener, had crossed the line before Denis Irwin cleared it. United were angry but we kept playing and the goals started flowing."

Keegan remembers them all - after Peacock's came a right-foot shot bent around Peter Schmeichel by Ginola and one apiece from Ferdinand and Shearer before Philippe Albert's 25-yard chip concluded matters.

"At that time we were almost on a level playing field with Manchester United but, while it won't happen overnight, we can get back up there again," he insisted.

Winning tonight would be a step in the right direction, not to mention an opportunity to avenge last month's 6-0 hammering at Old Trafford, suffered just days before Keegan's installation. "People think I don't like Sir Alex Ferguson but I do," said the manager. "I have massive respect for him but I'd like to beat them again. I'd quite enjoy that."