Magpies swoop to conquer

Sochaux 0 Newcastle 4

Manager Graeme Souness rested several of his key players for Sunday's Everton clash but his Magpies still drew the sting out of the French side before finishing them off in devastating fashion.

Lee Bowyer opened the scoring against the run of play with 29 minutes gone and Shola Ameobi made it 2-0 within 49 seconds of the restart. The visitors survived a major scare on 63 minutes when referee Carlos Megia Davilla awarded a controversial penalty, but Jeremy Mathieu dragged his effort wide.

Craig Bellamy added insult to injury with the third Newcastle goal 14 minutes from time, before substitute Laurent Robert curled home a brilliant 90th minute free-kick.

Newcastle take on Sporting Lisbon on December 16 with the top spot and an easier draw up for grabs - but Souness will have been delighted with the resilient defensive display which laid the foundation for his finishers to do the trick.

Sporting Lisbon's 4-0 win over Dinamo Tbilisi effectively secured the Magpies their place in the last 32 prior to kick-off.

Souness - already without injured trio Alan Shearer, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien - left out Patrick Kluivert, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Robert at the Stade Bonal.

Robbie Elliott replaced the ineligible Ronny Johnsen and took over the captain's armband, while Nicky Butt, Darren Ambrose, James Milner and Ameobi were handed starts.

Sochaux, who went into the game unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions, impressed early on.

Newcastle first threatened in the 26th minute but the breakthrough arrived after 29 minutes, Bowyer slamming a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Teddy Richert after Ameobi challenged Gregory Paisley for Bowyer's high ball and managed to get the better of the defender.

It should have been 2-0 within two minutes after Given found Bellamy and hooked the ball across for Milner, but the teenager blasted his effort over. Given had to be at his best to preserve his side's lead seconds later when Ilan made space for himself and fired in a low drive which the Irishman blocked with his right foot.

The goalkeeper was the saviour again nine minutes before the break when he just got his fingers to Michael Isabey's cross.

Newcastle doubled their lead within 49 seconds of the restart, after full-back Olivier Bernard found space on the left and crossed into the box, where Paisley sliced his attempted clearance. The ball flew across the six-yard box and with keeper Richert in no man's land, the unmarked Ameobi slotted home at the far post.

Impressive Nigerian midfielder Wilson Oruma hammered a long range effort just wide on 56 minutes, before Santos replaced Menez seconds later. Barely a minute later, the substitute forced Elliott into a desperate block, but the Magpies were looking well organised.

Bowyer's evening ended on 62 mintues when he was replaced by Dyer.

Newcastle found themselves up against it seconds later when Megia Davilla awarded a penalty for an apparent tug on Isabey's shirt - but Mathieu dragged his shot wide.

Oruma and Fabien Boudarene threatened as the home side committed men to the attack - and the visitors exploited the extra space 14 minutes from time.

Dyer broke from central midfield and allowed full-back Aaron Hughes to spring the offside trap and square for Bellamy to net.

The fight had gone out of the home side and their plight worsened in the final minute with Robert's inch-perfect free-kick.

SOCHAUX: Richert, Paisley, Diawara, Daf, Mathieu, Pitau, Lonfat (Boudarene 17), Oruma, Isabey (Diarra 84), Ilan, Menez (Santos 57).

NEWCASTLE: Given, Bernard, Bramble, Hughes, Elliott, Bowyer (Dyer 62), Butt, Ambrose (Taylor 90), Milner (Robert 80), Ameobi, Bellamy.

Referee: Carlos Megia Davila (Spain).