Newcastle United 1 Fenerbahce 0: A victory and a clean sheet: Newcastle United are hardly in the sort of form to be sniffy about the quality of performance and manager Glenn Roeder did say in his programme notes that he is prepared to "win ugly", though he is no fan of the concept, writes Michael Walker at St James' Park

Courtesy of a far from beautiful goal from Antoine Sibierski in the 79th minute, Newcastle got their Uefa Cup group off to the necessary start and just as importantly averted the kind of damaging defeat or draw against limited opponents that would have prolonged the current bout of dissatisfied introspection surrounding the club.

But in terms of flowing football this was not a convincing statement that the ails of the Premiership are about to be overcome. This was a bitty overall effort, and Middlesbrough away on Sunday will presumably hold greater threat than Fenerbahce posed last night.

Yet it was not until late that Newcastle were able to break the Turks down. When they did it was with the help of the vastly experienced Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber. When Steve Taylor had a shot from a Nolberto Solano corner, Rustu spilled it and Sibierski, lurking eight yards out, had the presence and reflexes to belt the rebound past him.

Roeder had much to ponder post-Bolton. The state of his defence has been the subject of another splurge of negativity and few could argue against that. Roeder, with Sunday's trip to Middlesbrough in mind, decided to be radical.

Titus Bramble and Craig Moore were dropped and in their place at the centre of the back four were Steven Taylor, recalled after being dropped himself, and Peter Ramage, moved from left back. Ramage (22), and Taylor (20), are both homegrown, a positive sign for the club.

Taking Ramage's position at left-back was Damien Duff, and Roeder found room in midfield for two young midfielders in James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia.

In a scrappy first half it was 28 minutes before either team had a shot worthy of the name. When it came it was from N'Zogbia and struck Rustu's side-netting.

The second half had to be better, the percentages said so, but disconcertingly for Newcastle it was Fenerbahce who started it more vigorously. For the first time on the night there were glimpses of Mateja Kezman.

Twice Kezman left Taylor flat-footed and the England under-21 defender was fortunate that on neither break was the Fenerbahce forward either able to supply a killer or pass or a dangerous shot.

Newcastle managed to survive 11 tense minutes after their goal.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Carr, Taylor, Ramage, Duff, Milner, Parker, Emre (Butt 54), N'Zogbia (Solano 64), Sibierski, Martins (Ameobi 75). Subs not used: Luque, Moore, Bramble, Krul. Goal: Sibierski 79.

FENERBAHCE: Rustu, Turaci, Lugano, Edu Dracena, Ozat (Deivid 81), Yozgatli (Boral 69), Appiah, Aurelio, Sanli, Kezman, Alex. Subs not used: Demirel, Metin, Arat, Baris, Balci. Booked: Ozat, Turaci.

Referee: G Gilewski (Poland).