IT was a real Christmas cracker of a game when Wanderers hosted Newcastle on Boxing Day 2002 and they edged a seven-goal thriller.

Any festive hangovers in the crowd were blown away with three goals in the first nine minutes at the Reebok.

Jay-Jay Okocha and Ricardo Gardner scored early for the Whites either side of an Alan Shearer goal.

Two Michael Ricketts strikes put Wanderers into a 4-1 lead by the hour mark but two late Magpies goals meant a nervy ending.