David Batty, playing in his first full game since England were knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina and he missed the decisive penalty, once again had that sinking feeling here last night. This time he conceded a penalty, fouling Vladimir Ivic after 53 minutes, and Partizan's Vuk Rasovic, as he had done at St James' Park in the first leg, converted it confidently. It was that vital away goal that means Newcastle are out of Europe at the first exit.

With the West beginning to voice its anger at events in Kosovo a local Belgrade radio station was reportedly advertising this game as "Not Partizan versus Newcastle, not Partizan versus England, this is Serbia versus NATO" and the inflammatory atmosphere saw firemen patrolling the running track around the pitch, ready to extinguish descending flares.

Extinguishing Partizan flair on the field was Newcastle's priority and they had a new factor to deal with in their opponents' star striker, the teenager Mateja Kezman. This had to be done without the United captain Rob Lee, who had a thigh strain, Alan Shearer taking the arm band. Batty took Lee's place and other Newcastle changes from the first leg saw young Andy Griffin come in.

Newcastle began to put down roots in the game and, had Shearer's incisive pass in the 25th minute not fallen to Batty, the visitors may even have gone in front. But Batty, true to form, dragged his shot wide.

Partizan twice went close after the break and Newcastle also had their most promising chance during this hectic period. Temuri Ketsbaia

latched on to Pearce's long clearance and hared in on the Belgrade goal. However, just as he looked about to shoot, Ketsbaia tried to tee-up Shearer instead. The pass was intercepted, Ketsbaia held his head in his hands.

Partizan, in their next surge upfield, took the lead. Inevitably, it seemed, Batty was involved; a sustained period of pressure culminated in him tripping Ivic.

Partizan Belgrade: Damjanac, Rasovic, Savic, Krstajic (Stojisavljevic 45), Stojanoski, Trobok, Ivic, Ilic, Tomic, Bjekovic (Tesovic 79), Kezman (Pazin 66). Subs Not Used: Ljubanovic, Duljaj, Gerasimovski, Vukovic. Booked: Ivic, Kezman, Bjekovic. Goals: Rasovic 53 pen.

Newcastle: Given, Griffin (Albert 73), Glass, Batty, Shearer, Speed, Ketsbaia, Charvet, Solano, Dabizas, Pearce. Subs Not Used: Perez, Gillespie, Barton, Harper, Georgiadis, Howey. Booked: Batty, Solano, Shearer, Glass.