Defensive lapses concern Roeder

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has told his side they must cut out the defensive errors if they are to avoid another European embarrassment against Latvian league leaders Ventspils tonight.

Backline blunders were a major reason why the Magpies failed even to reach the UEFA Cup last season as they crashed out in the Intertoto semi-final to Deportivo La Coruna.

This time Roeder’s men have reached the second qualifying round stage, via the Intertoto Cup, but know they can ill afford a repeat of their two most recent pre-season games, in which they have conceded six.

Roeder said: “The mistakes that have been made in those two games can be ironed out as they are mistakes lads of this quality should not be making.

“Maybe with them being friendlies we were a little too relaxed when defending and we left Shay Given exposed but we have got those games out of the way now and hopefully those mistakes will be eradicated.”