On-loan Rossi inspires on song Toon to victory

GIUSEPPE ROSSI marked his first start for Newcastle with a debut goal as Glenn Roeder’s side survived bad conditions on Tyneside to book their place in the Carling Cup fourth round.

The on-loan Manchester United starlet struck three minutes after half-time to fire the Magpies ahead and provided them with the platform to see off Portsmouth.

Nolberto Solano made sure of the win five minutes later with a header from substitute Damien Duff’s cross, before finishing things off with his second on 90 minutes.

Kieron Dyer also made his long awaited return from a six-month injury lay-off as a second half substitute.

How glad the Toon Army were that the game went ahead despite the weather as their side recovered from an uncertain start to run out worthy winners.

Roeder made five changes to the side which went down at Middlesbrough on Sunday – out went skipper Scott Parker, Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage, Damien Duff and the injured Antoine Sibierski as Solano, Titus Bramble, Celestine Babayaro, Charles N’Zogbia and Rossi were drafted in.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp also rang the changes with Sol Campbell, Gary O’Neil, Pedro Mendes, Benjani Mwaruwari and Kanu rested as Newcastle old boys Andy O’Brien, Andy Cole and Lomana LuaLua got starts.

The visitors were by far the more impressive in the early stages and Matthew Taylor had tested Magpies goalkeeper Steve Harper before N’Zogbia tackled LuaLua after he had turned Steven Taylor on seven minutes.

The home side started the half as they finished the first – on the front foot — and took the lead within three minutes of the restart after Milner surged into the box and Taylor’s appeals for a penalty were waved away.

The home fans were still appealing for a spot-kick when Rossi latched onto the loose ball and calmly slotted home his first goal for the club.

The lead was doubled five minutes later when Duff sent in a deep cross and Solano arrived unmarked at the far post to power a header past James.

Rossi might have doubled his tally on 80 minutes after bursting into the box, but James foiled him once again and then did enough to deny Dyer as he honed in on the rebound.

Pompey thought they had dragged themselves back into it with seven minutes remaining when LuaLua stabbed the ball home from close range after the home side failed to deal with a near post corner, but an offside flag ended his celebrations.

And Solano completed the scoring in the last minute of normal time when he capitalised on Milner’s run to slot home a third from close range.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Taylor, Moore, Bramble, Babayaro, Solano, Butt, N’Zogbia, Milner, Rossi, Martins.

PORTSMOUTH: James, Pamarot, O’Brien, Primus, Taylor, Thompson, Davis, Fernandes, Kranjcar, Cole, LuaLua.

Referee: A Marriner