It's taken me two days to get to writing this up - I was that STUNNED!! No, not really - have been busy - but it was a GREAT RESULT for certain - and such a relief!!

I listened to this on the radio coverage from the Official site again. Missed the first 15 minutes (or they did - was no coverage) - so missed Mboma's first goal. Perhaps this is a blessing considering the racket the commentator made when Patrick scored his second!!!! "IL BOMBA - MBOMA, MBOMAAAAAAAAAAAA" - oh, and ages of it!! From reading other reports, we were "beautiful" and it sure sounded like we were. And really good performance by all the ragazzi - especially Conceicao and, of course, MBOMAAAAAAA!! With Amoroso injured (no!) and Di Vaio - and Milosevic suspended, I was doubtful that we could overcome Milan with just Mboma up front. Just shows how much I know about it! I have to say though that, when I watched Mboma during the Olympic Games matches, he seemed one pretty neat striker. How come he couldn't turn it on for Parma?? Obviously, I would say, judging by this, because his team-mates weren't too bothered. This night; thankfully they were! Do us all a favour, Alberto - and dump Amoroso, that is if he ever gets fit again.

Well, I hope that this is a turn in the right direction (see how we have flown up the table to 9th) and not just one of those "Parma lift themselves for the big games" things that have been so par for the course in the last couple seasons. A win at Bari is, if not a must, then a nearly must - in order to keep the morale and all that going. Don't dip it boys! FORZA! FORZA!!

Teams

PARMA (3-4-3): Buffon; Thuram, Torrisi, F.Cannavaro; Fuser, Almeyda, Lamouchi, Falsini; Conceiçao (84, Boghossian), Mboma (90, Sensini), Micoud (88, Appiah).
SUBS NOT USED: Guardalben, Sartor, Benarrivo, Montano
MANAGER: Malesani
MILAN (3-4-3): Dida; Chamot, Costacurta (50, Sala), Maldini; Gattuso, Albertini, Ambrosini (81, Helveg), Coco; José Mari, Bierhoff (55, Boban), Shevchenko
SUBS NOT USED: Rossi, Giunti, Guly, Leonardo
MANAGER: Zaccheroni

Yellow cards: 20, Falsini, 44, Chamot, 46, Costacurta, 51, Maldini, 58, Ambrosini
REFEREE: Cesari from Genoa

What the papers thought

GIGI BUFFON average 6.5 (5.844 - 4 appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5. Did not have much to do but brilliantly denied Shevchenko a consolation goal at the death.
Corriere dello Sport 6.5. Hardly a save to make in the first half and not much more to do after the break. A great point-blank save to thwart Shevchenko on 88 minutes.
Tuttosport 6.5. A miraculous save to deny Shevchenko but sometimes unsure off his line.
Gazzetta di Parma6.5.

LILIAN THURAM average 7 (6 - 4 appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 7. The fact that Shevchenko did not shine is in no small part due to Thuram.
Corriere dello Sport 7. With Cannavaro, they both saw off Shevchenko.
Tuttosport 7. Superb in the air and equal to everything that the Ukrainian had to offer.
Gazzetta di Parma 7.

STEFANO TORRISI 6.625 (one appearance)
Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5. A very tidy performance.
Corriere dello Sport 6.5. Did well but with Thuram and Cannavaro in such form it was not difficult to look good.
Tuttosport 7. A solid performance. Did not put a foot wrong.
Gazzetta di Parma 6.5

FABIO CANNAVARO average 6.88 (6.344 - four appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 7. José Mari kept him busy but he was unruffled.
Corriere dello Sport 6.5. An easy night as the Rossoneri attacking trio were very poor.
Tuttosport 7. Played with his usual authority on the left side of the central defensive three.
Gazzetta di Parma 7.

DIEGO FUSER average 6.63 (6.167 - three appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5. His shooting was out of sorts but his play was reminiscent of the good old days.
Corriere dello Sport 7. Got the better of Coco and age does not seem to be a handicap to him.
Tuttosport 7.Prevented Coco from getting in his dangerous crosses and attacked whenever possible.
Gazzetta di Parma 6.

SABRI LAMOUCHI average 6.63 (6.292 - three appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5. Very mobile and almost scored in the first half.
Corriere dello Sport 6. One of the midfield generals who did so much to overawe their Milan counterparts.
Tuttosport 7. Along with Almeyda, he bossed the midfield.
Gazzetta di Parma 7.

MATIAS ALMEYDA average 6.63 (5,917 - three appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5. Managed to put Albertini off his game.
Corriere dello Sport 6.5. In the kind of form that helped Lazio to the title.
Tuttosport 7. Playing left of centre he won many balls. Gazzetta di Parma 6.5.

GIANLUCA FALSINI average 6.25 (5.958 - three appearances )
Gazzetta dello Sport 6.5. When in full flight he is quite simply irresistible. His shooting was a little erratic though.
Corriere dello Sport 6.5. Malesani's trump card, who had a big hand in the first goal.
Tuttosport 6. Defended very well, a little less bright going forward.
Gazzetta di Parma 6.

SERGIO CONCEIÇAO average 7.38 (6.094 - four appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 7.5. Made the second goal and received a standing ovation. What more can you say.
Corriere dello Sport 7.5. A flawless performance. He was forever supporting Mboma.
Tuttosport 7.5. A constant threat.
Gazzetta di Parma 7.

PATRICK MBOMA average 7.625 (first appearance)
Gazzetta dello Sport 7.5. Marked his debut with a brilliant brace. If he isn't to be first choice, then what a player to have coming on!
Corriere dello Sport 8. Simply unstoppable and could have had more.
Tuttosport 7.5. The only thing to be established is whether he should now be a permanent fixture in Malesani's line-up.
Gazzetta di Parma 7.5.

JOHAN MICOUD average 7.13 (5.813 - four appearances)
Gazzetta dello Sport 7.5 Showed great class and flair and was the main instigator of Parma's performance.
Corriere dello Sport 7. Passed his test with flying colours.
Tuttosport 7. Off the blocks like a shot. A wonderful pass to set up Mboma's first.
Gazzetta di Parma 7.

STEPHAN APPIAH 5.5 (first appearance)
Came on for Johan Micoud with only a few minutes left.

ALAIN BOGHOSSIAN 6 (first appearance)
Same applies. Substituted Sergio Conceiçao.

NESTOR SENSINI 6 (first appearance)
Just enough time to re-acquaint himself with the Tardini turf. On for Patrick Mboma.

The following players did not play against Milan:
MARCIO AMOROSO average 5.667 (three appearances)
ANTONIO BENARRIVO average 4.625 (two appearances )
JORGE BOLAÑO average 5.75 (two appearances )
MARCO DI VAIO average 6 (three appearances )
SAVO MILOSEVIC average 4.875 (three appearances)
GIGI SARTOR average 5.75 (three appearances )

TEAM AVERAGE average 6.84 (5.965 after four games)