Early blitz puts Newcastle in driving seat

Newcastle 4 AZ Alkmaar 2

A Gretar Steinsson own goal and strikes from Kieron Dyer and Obafemi Martins saw the Magpies race into a 3-0 lead with just 23 minutes gone as the Dutchmen were torn apart.

Shota Arveladze reduced the deficit with a 31st-minute header, but Martins — identified as the dangerman by AZ coach Louis van Gaal before the game — claimed his 16th goal of the season six minutes later.

To their credit, Alkmaar, who put their passing game to good use throughout, were far more resilient in the second half and dragged themselves back into the tie when Danny Koevermans converted after Shay Given had saved substitute Moussa Dembele’s controversial 73rd-minute penalty.

Martins really should have made it 5-2 and completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time when he went one-on-one with Boy Waterman, only to fire straight at the goalkeeper.

Glenn Roeder’s men head for the DSB Stadium next Thursday evening knowing qualification is within their grasp, but aware that the side currently lying second in the Eredivisie will not bow out of the competition without a fight.

Defender Steinsson got the home side off to the perfect start when he turned Dyer’s seventh-minute cross into his own net under pressure from Martins — after Damien Duff’s outrageous backheel had caught AZ cold.

It was 2-0 with 20 minutes gone when Antoine Sibierski flicked Nicky Butt’s pass into Dyer’s path and he calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Waterman.

The home fans were still celebrating when Sibierski gave Martins the chance to run at defender Kew Jaliens, and he danced through the red shirts before blasting a right-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Martins restored the three-goal advantage within six minutes, swivelling to convert Nolberto Solano’s cross with a superbly-placed shot.

Van Gaal replaced Belgian Maarten Martens with compatriot Dembele on the hour, but Jaliens had to clear a Dyer cross just ahead of Martins and Duff slipped as he prepared to shoot after racing into the penalty area.

Roeder replaced the tiring Sibierski with James Milner with 25 minutes remaining — before the visitors who gave themselves fresh hope in controversial circumstances with 17 minutes remaining.

Dembele drove a cross into Steven Taylor’s arm and referee Busacca immediately pointed to the spot.

Given got down well to save the Belgian’s spot-kick and Bramble prevented the taker converting the rebound — but the ball ricocheted to Koevermans, who gratefully blasted home.

Roeder handed Turkey international Emre his first action since his race row charge as a 77th-minute replacement for Duff.

Martins could have wrapped up a good night for the Magpies with eight minutes remaining when he burst in on goal, but shot straight at Waterman, before Scott Parker headed over from Emre’s 85th-minute cross.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Bramble, Taylor, Carr, Solano, Dyer, Parker, Butt, Duff (Emre 77), Sibierski (Milner 65), Martins.

AZ: Waterman, Steinsson, Jaliens, Opdam, De Cler, Jenner (Lens 65), De Zeeuw, Martens (Dembele 59), Boukhari (Luirink 83), Koevermans, Arveladze.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).