Taylor swoops to save Magpies

LOCAL hero Steven Taylor made sure his first Newcastle goal was a crucial one as he fired the Magpies into the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

The 20-year-old central defender had a part to play in Fabian Canobbio’s ninth-minute opener for Celta Vigo.

But after Antoine Sibierski had cancelled out the Uruguayan’s strike with a 36th-minute equaliser – his fourth goal in a black and white shirt and his third in Europe. Then Taylor powered a header past Esteban Suarez from Albert Luque’s corner four minutes from time to send Glenn Roeder’s men into the last 32.

The victory, coupled with Fenerbahce’s 3-0 win over Palermo, means the Magpies head for Eintracht Frankfurt next week knowing anything they collect there can only improve their finishing position in Group H with a maximum nine points already banked.

It also extends their unbeaten run in cup ties this season to 11 games, and they have not lost in their last four in all competitions, a record they will hope to extend against Portsmouth in the Barclays Premiership on Sunday.

Roeder was indebted not only to Taylor and bargain buy Sibierski, but former England midfielder Nicky Butt, who put in a determined display in central midfield, and Peruvian Nolberto Solano, who was employed as an emergency right-back in front of a crowd of just 25,079 at St James’ Park.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Solano, Bramble, Taylor, Ramage, Milner, Butt (Parker 65), Emre (Martins 70), N’Zogbia, Luque, Sibierski.

CELTA VIGO: Esteban, Angel, Yago, Contreras, Placente, Jonathan, Iriney, Borja, Nene (Lopez 74), Baiano (Jesus Perera 61), Canobbio (Jorge 86).

Ref: Dick Van Egmond (Holland).