Newcastle - 4 Zeljeznicar Sarajevo - 0:CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/Qualifying: It lacked the intensity of Manchester United's qualification the night before, mainly because Newcastle United had won their first leg away 1-0, but the end result was the same: another English team in this season's Champions League.
For Newcastle it is only a second appearance among Europe's new elite and mention of a sense of anti-climax may seem strange. But in front of a crowd of 34,000 - meaning 17,000 empty seats - the night most definitely had that feel.
Kieron Dyer's 24th-minute opener, adding to the goal he scored in Sarajevo, plus Lomana LuaLua's second 13 minutes later, meant the contest withered early.
They most definitely did not need the numerical advantage that came with the harsh 70th-minute dismissal of Sanel Jahic for a foul on the substitute Shola Ameobi, though it was five minutes after that Hugo Viana blasted in his first goal for Newcastle. Six minutes later Alan Shearer made it four.
Criticised heavily locally for the 3-5-2 formation that failed at Manchester City last Saturday, manager Bobby Robson reverted to Newcastle's usual 4-4-2. Jermaine Jenas made way to accommodate the change and Viana came in on the left.
Viana was prominent immediately as Newcastle clipped the ball around cleanly. But there was no end product and as early as the 14th minute Robson was off the bench chastising his players, Nikos Dabizas in particular, telling him to let others do the passing, preferably over greater distances.
Sure enough, with the first long pass of the night, from Solano, Lua Lua was presented with a volley 10 yards out. He smacked it over. The Bosnians took heart from that. They had arrived without their principal goalscorer, Almir Gredic, and were very tentative with their first few touches, but gradually they settled and recorded the first worthwhile shot on goal through Sanjin Radonja.
Alerted, if not exactly frightened, Newcastle responded with more purpose than previously. First Alan Shearer directed an Olivier Bernard cross wide with his head and Shearer provided a short touch as Dyer put Newcastle 2-0 ahead on aggregate.
Shearer's pass fed Solano, whose chip reached Dyer as he advanced beyond the Zeljeznicar defence. The Zeljo goalkeeper Kennan Hasagic raced off his line leaving Dyer the only option of chipping him. This Dyer did.
Any chance of a surprise result faded but Newcastle still needed another before half-time to be comfortable. Courtesy of Gary Speed's tenacity, they got it.
Seizing on some static midfield play, Speed robbed Bulend Biscevic and slid the ball to LuaLua. LuaLua's initial control was poor but he was given another go and from inside the D curled the ball right-footed into the far corner.
If the tie was effectively ended there Robson remained unhappy with his side's performance judging by his demeanour on the touchline. Viana was just one of the guilty of repeatedly conceding possession.
Newcastle began the second half with more urgency and on the hour Shearer was denied twice, first by Hasagic from a free-kick, second by Hasagic's left post, struck by Shearer from 30 yards.
- Guardian Srevice
Newcastle United: Given; Hughes, Bramble, Dabizas, Bernard; Solano (Kerr, 75), Dyer, Speed, Viana; LuaLua (Ameobi, 51), Shearer.
Zeljeznicar: Hasagic; Jahic, Mulalic, Alihodzic, Mulaosmanovic; Cosic, Karic (Tica, 64), Biscevic, Seferovic; Radonja, Guvo (Alagic, 46).
Referee: F de Bleeckere (Belgium).
