Given the hero as Magpies dig deep for point to top group

NEWCASTLE will head into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup as Group H winners after claiming a hard-fought point in Germany last night.

The Magpies were under siege for much of the game and had Shay Given to thank for a superb 25th-minute save from Albert Streit, and Steven Taylor for a series of vital blocks.

However, they were also indebted to the poor finishing of Greek striker Ioannis Amanatidis and the impressive Noahiro Takahara, who lobbed agonisingly over the bar with four minutes remaining.

The draw extended Newcastle’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.

Goalkeeper Given now insists the Magpies are capable of succeeding in the UEFA Cup, saying: ‘‘There’s no reason we can’t go all the way.

“People said it was a group of death so to get three victories and a draw in Germany is fantastic.”

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper admitted Newcastle had to dig to secure a result but praised the defence.

“I don’t think it was our best performance but we came here, kept a clean sheet and topped the group so we are pleased with that.”

“We had to defend well. Steven Taylor made some great blocks and Titus Bramble played well as well.

Despite having already secured their place in the knockout stage, Newcastle headed for Germany determined to return in an unassailable position at the top of the group as the other four sides scrapped for the remaining berths.

But while a point was enough for them to achieve their aim, the Germans desperately needed all three.

With Japanese winger Takahara giving makeshift right-back Nolberto Solano a torrid time and Amanatidis causing problems, the visitors found themselves under extreme pressure.

Indeed, had it not been for the brilliance of captain Given, Glenn Roeder’s men might have been trailing at the break.

The Magpies defended stoutly for the opening quarter of the game, but they eventually cracked with 25 minutes gone when Markus Weissenberger delivered the perfect cross for the unmarked Streit to head for goal, only for Given to block with his legs.

Seconds later, Takahara turned up on the right to fired the ball towards the far post, where Amanatidis climbed, but could not climb high enough and could not direct his effort at the target with Streit perhaps better placed behind him.

Newcastle were hanging on by the skin of their teeth and Bramble came to the rescue with a vital 38th-minute challenge on Amanatidis as he prepared to shoot from point-blank range.

The visitors posed little threat as an attacking force, although they went close on the stroke of half-time when Emre curled a left-foot effort just wide.

Eintracht took up where they had left off after the break, Streit firing in a long-range shot which Taylor blocked.

Just how Amanatidis failed to head Takahara’s 50th-minute cross past Given was a mystery.

It was to become something of a theme with Taylor having to block a Takahara effort before Streit sliced horribly wide.

But the visitors might have taken the lead against the run of play four minutes later when Obafemi Martins, who replaced Albert Luque, crossed for Sibierski whose header beat keeper Markus Proll but defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos hacked off the line.

Given then had to save twice from Amanatidis.

Emre might have won it for the Magpies seconds later when he went one on one with Proll, but lost out.

Taylor’s 82nd-minute deflection as Takahara went for goal proved invaluable, but the same man could have won it at the death, only to lift his shot over the advancing Given, but also the crossbar.

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT: Proll, Vasovski, Kyrgiakos, Spycher, Rehmer (Ochs 64), Streit, Huggel, Weissenberger, Takahara, Amanatidis (Fink 78), Kohler.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Ramage, Bramble, Taylor, Solano, Emre, Milner, Butt, N’Zogbia, Sibierski, Luque (Martins 59).

Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)