Martins on target as subdued Magpies made to struggle

Newcastle 1 Zulte Waregem 0 (Aggregate: 4-1)

Obafemi Martins’ 68th-minute strike, his 14th goal of the season, was all they had to show for a performance which at times threatened much more, but too often failed to deliver.

A 4-1 aggregate victory handed the Magpies a trip to AZ Alkmaar in the next round after the Dutch side fought back from 2-0 down on the night against Fenerbahce for a 5-5 aggregate draw and a win on away goals.

Having returned from Belgium last week with a 3-1 win, there was never any real prospect of Glenn Roeder’s men surrendering their advantage.

Keeper Steve Harper had only two saves to make, the second at the death to preserve his side’s lead, but manager Glenn Roeder will have been disappointed that his side did not cause more problems against a team lying 12th in the Jupiler League.

Harper was pleased as Newcastle came through their “no-win situation”.

He said: “When a team come up and set themselves up like that it’s a big compliment.

“They had 11 men behind the ball and made it hard — we couldn’t find a way through in the first half.

“We did the job away from home and tonight was a no-win situation — but a great finish from Obafemi won it for us.”

While Newcastle started at a lively pace to put the Belgians under intense pressure, the sides left the pitch at the break with no change in the aggregate scoreline and with Roeder having shuffled his pack in an attempt to find the breakthrough.

With skipper Nicky Butt spraying the ball around the field and James Milner tormenting full-back Bart Buysee, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side added to their tally.

Celestine Babayaro, who is due to head to London for his brother Kennedy’s funeral tomorrow, did not reappear after the break and was replaced by Paul Huntington.

But after a brief flurry by the visitors, it was Newcastle who took control, Bramble forcing a save from Bossut and Martins mistiming a header from six yards.

Vandendriessche forced Harper into his first save of the game on 53 minutes with a curling shot from distance, and the keeper was happy to see Ludwin van Nieuwhuyze’s skidding drive fly past his far post three minutes later.

Newcastle were labouring, and Roeder withdrew Butt and Luque for youngsters Matty Pattison and Andrew Carroll in the search for fresh impetus.

But it was Duff who finally fashioned the opening goal on 68 minutes when he slid a pass into Martins’ run, and the striker calmly lifted a shot over the goalkeeper.

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle: Harper, Taylor, Bramble, Babayaro (Huntington 46), Milner, Solano, Butt (Pattison 65), Dyer, Duff, Luque (Carroll 65), Martins.

ZULTE-WAREGEM: Bossut, Minne (Reina 76), D’Haene, Dindeleux, Buysse, Vandermarliere, Van Steenbrugge, Vannieuwenhuyse, Meert, Van Den Driessche (Sergeant 56), Siani (Matthys 56).

Referee: Nikolai Ivanov (Russia).