Newcastle and Spurs celebrate Euro success

It was a mixed night for English clubs in the UEFA Cup First Round First Leg tonight.

Antoine Sibierski handed Newcastle a slim advantage over Levadia Tallinn with a goal on his debut.

The Frenchman headed a 10th-minute Damien Duff free-kick past Artur Kotenko to give his side the perfect start, although they failed to build upon it.

Marek Lemsalu, Vladimir Voskoboinikov and Konstantin Vassiljev all went close for the Estonians, but Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given had only one testing save to make.

Jermaine Jenas’ first-half strike gave Tottenham a vital first-leg advantage over Slavia Prague.

Jenas drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net in the 38th minute to ensure Spurs went back to White Hart Lane with an all-important away goal.

Spurs always had too much class for their hard working opponents but had goalkeeper Paul Robinson to thank when he made a crucial double save in the second half.

Blackburn suffered late UEFA Cup heartbreak as they came within 90 seconds of creating club history.

In 16 previous matches in both the UEFA Cup and Champions League, Rovers had won just one match, and that a dead-rubber group stage clash in the latter competition against Rosenborg at Ewood Park.

Consequently, in coming from behind in this first round, first leg tie with goals from Robbie Savage and Benni McCarthy, Rovers were poised to win on the road on the continent for the first time in nine attempts.

But they were unable to weather a late Salzburg storm as Marc Janko grabbed an equaliser in the second minute of injury-time.

West Ham have a mountain to climb in two weeks time after losing the home leg of their first-round tie to Palermo.

The Italians snatched the priceless away goal in the last minute of the first half – and in controversial circumstances.

West Ham claimed the ball had gone out of play but Palermo played on and Aimo Diana picked out Andrea Caracciolo to slot his shot past Roy Carroll.

Argentina international Carlos Tevez had West Ham’s best chance with a volley from Bobby Zamora’s cross but the Hammers were outsmarted.

Elsewhere, Scottish side Rangers returned from their trip to Molde with a goalless draw ahead of the return leg at Ibrox.

Hearts’ European hopes are hanging by a thread after losing 2-0 to Sparta Prague at Murrayfield.