Shearer inspires Newcastle victory

Newcastle 2 Heerenveen 1 (Newcastle win 4-2 on aggregate)

Alan Shearer scored once again as Newcastle eased their way past Heerenveen to a last 16 UEFA Cup clash against Olympiacos.

The 34-year-old blasted home a 22-yard drive with 25 minutes gone to cement his side’s progression, after Heerenveen defender Michel Breuer had turned a 10th-minute Laurent Robert cross into his own net to make the result a formality.

From that point on, it was simply a matter of concentration against a Dutch side who passed the ball confidently but rarely looked like troubling Shay Given.

The Ireland goalkeeper made his only real save from top scorer Klaas Jan Huntelaar with eight minutes gone, and Heerenveen slipped out of the competition with a whimper despite Arnold Bruggink’s 80th-minute penalty.

A second victory in four days left a meagre crowd of 26,156 with something to celebrate on a filthy Tyneside night as their dreams of a first trophy in 36 years remained alive.

Magpies boss Graeme Souness faces the task of preparing his side for a much tougher assignment against Champions League drop-outs Olympiacos in the next round.

Newcastle have been haunted in European competition for the last two seasons by the memories of the fateful night in August 2003 when – holding a 1-0 first-leg lead in a Champions League qualifier against Partizan Belgrade – they contrived to lose the return at St James’ and go out on penalties.

As a result, there was no complacency as Heerenveen arrived trailing 2-1 but believing they still had a real chance of qualification.

Their hopes ended if not within 10 minutes then certainly after 25 as the Magpies killed off the tie with some ease.

Laurent Robert rewarded Souness for selecting him again with just four minutes gone, racing on to Shearer’s perfect lay-off to fire in a cross which Breuer could only help into the roof of his own net.

It was 2-0 when, after Said Bakkati had rudely interrupted the progress of the excellent Kieron Dyer 22 yards out, Robert touched the ball sideways – and Shearer hammered in a low drive which Vandenbussche got a hand on but could not keep out.

Shola Ameobi tried to add his name to the scoresheet but was denied three times – twice by the goalkeeper, with a fine double save and from a powerful header, and once by the post.

It might have been different for the visitors had Given not managed to palm away leading scorer Huntelaar’s eighth-minute strike after he turned Irish defender Andy O’Brien. But from then on – despite some neat football from the Dutchmen – there was only one team in it.

Dyer, who missed the first leg with a viral infection, was replaced by Jermaine Jenas at the break.

The pattern of the first half was repeated as Newcastle continued to dominate possession – although with the job done, there was a little less urgency than before the break.

Robert tested Vandenbussche with a 52nd-minute effort – but with the Dutch side getting as many men behind the ball as possible when Newcastle were in possession, they were inviting pressure on themselves.

It was effectively a practice match for Souness’ side, who nevertheless had to maintain their concentration – and there were mock celebrations from the visiting fans when their side won a corner on the hour.

Shearer made way for youngster James Milner with 25 minutes remaining, and the newcomer had a chance within two minutes of his arrival after getting in on the left – but he fired straight at Vandenbussche.

Then just as it seemed as the though to game was running down to an uneventful conclusion, Newcastle shot themselves in the foot.

Ameobi was adjudged to have handled as he tried to clear a Ugur Yildirim corner – and referee Dejan Delevic pointed to the spot, much to the striker’s annoyance as he claimed he had been fouled.

Bruggink had no complaints, however, smashing the penalty past Given to give his side something to show for their efforts and spark a late if fruitless flurry.