THE season started as early as 14 July in Belgium, the earliest on record in the Magpies' history and following four seasons of mediocrity, this was to be the start of a United renaissance.

United competed in the UEFA Intertoto Cup for the first time, a competition which offered a lifeline into the UEFA Cup for those teams who didn't qualify automatically.

After disposing of Sporting Lokeren and 1860 Munich in the first two rounds, sides possessing a European pedigree, it was the unknowns of Troyes in France who eliminated United from the competition on away goals in the 'Final'

The old saying of 'being able to concentrate on the league' may never have been truer for United as they started the Premiership campaign with a good draw at Chelsea and followed it up with decisive derby victories over Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the latter being thumped 4 - 1 on their own ground with new signing Laurent Robert playing a blinder.

Craig Bellamy had also joined in the close season, his partnership with Alan Shearer terrorising defences up and down the land, and when the signing of Jermaine Jenas was completed in the New Year, the Magpies were well-equipped to challenge the best.

December may have seen United at their peak, when successive wins over Blackburn, Arsenal and Leeds United shot the Magpies to the summit of the Premiership and the Christmas Number One position was consolidated with the Boxing Day blitz of Middlesbrough.

Those heady days dipped somewhat in the New Year and although there were a number of memorable games, notably the 6 - 2 pummelling of Everton, United slipped to fourth in the table, though still their highest finish since the 1996/97 season - and earned the right for a crack at the Champions League again via the qualifiers.

In the domestic cup competitions, not for the first time, and indeed not the last, London foes Chelsea ended United's interest in the League Cup, that after a run to the Quarter-Finals, and it was the same fate in the FA Cup too, but this time Arsenal put paid to the Magpies' cup dreams for another season with a Quarter-Final replay success at Highbury.

Season 2001/02

Premiership
Pos Pld W D L F A Pts
4th 38 21 8 9 74 52 71
FA Cup: QF
League Cup: QF
Uefa: Inter Toto
Top scorer: Shearer 27
Avg Attn: 51,373