RUUD Gullit reckoned he was on an each-way winner building up to tomorrow's final Premiership game of the season against Blackburn Rovers on Tyneside.

For, although it might sound like double-Dutch, the Newcastle United manager believed that whether Rovers were already relegated or not, they would provide the ideal FA Cup final preparation for the Magpies.

Gullit has banned use of the 'F' for final word at St James's Park before tomorrow's game is out of the way.

But there is no disguising the fact that it is very much on his mind.

Before Rovers' relegation was confirmed, he said: "It's good to have a performance to get into a certain rhythm.

"If Blackburn win (against Manchester United) I think we'll have a good game because they will then have a chance of staying up.

"But it will suit us also if they lose, then there's nothing at stake and it's not important."

Rovers, however, are determined not to treat the game lightly.

Ashley Ward said: "The manager would not allow us to do that anyway. The crowd have been fantastic to us, Wednesday was a tremendous experience. The vocal support really does lift the players.

"It was nice to give them a little bit back against United because they are as disappointed as the players.

"But I think we have got to go to Newcastle and do the same again.

"It's a meaningless game but we have pride to play for and we are going to try to show people that this year is a one-off and that we don't deserve to be there."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.