Newcastle into last 32

Eintracht Frankfurt 0 Newcastle 0

Newcastle will head into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup as Group H winners after claiming a hard-fought point in Germany.

The Magpies were under siege for much of the game and had Shay Given to thank for a superb 25th-minute save from Albert Streit, and Steven Taylor for a series of vital blocks.

However, they were also indebted to the poor finishing of Greek striker Ioannis Amanatidis, who wasted the best two chances of the game, and the impressive Noahiro Takahara, who lobbed agonisingly over the bar with four minutes remaining.

The draw extended Newcastle’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions, and 12 in cup ties this season.

They might even have won it on the night when Antoine Sibierski saw his 61st-minute header hacked off the line, but that would have been cruel on the Germans, who go into their last game facing a battle to qualify.

Despite having already secured their place in the knockout stage, Newcastle headed for Germany determined to return in an unassailable position at the top of the group as the other four sides scrapped for the remaining berths.

But while a point was enough for them to achieve their aim, the Germans desperately needed all three, and their intent was clear from the off.

With Japanese winger Takahara giving makeshift right-back Nolberto Solano a torrid time – the Peruvian’s 35th-minute booking after being undone by the midfielder was a concern for Roeder – and Amanatidis causing problems, the visitors at times found themselves under extreme pressure.

Indeed, had it not been for the brilliance of captain Given, Glenn Roeder’s men might have been trailing at the break.

The Magpies had defended stoutly for the opening quarter of the game, but they eventually cracked with 25 minutes gone after Swiss international Benjamin Huggel carved them open with a precise pass to Markus Weissenberger.

He looked up before delivering the perfect cross from the right for the unmarked Streit to head for goal, only for Given to block with his legs before Titus Bramble and James Milner hustled the ball away.

Seconds later, Takahara turned up on the right to fire the ball towards the far post, where Amanatidis climbed, but not high enough and could not direct his effort at the target with Streit perhaps better placed behind him.

Newcastle were hanging on by the skin of their teeth and Bramble, who had endured several uncomfortable moments, came to the rescue with a vital 38th-minute challenge on Amanatidis as he prepared to shoot from point-blank range.

The visitors posed little threat as an attacking force, although they went close on the stroke of half-time when Emre and Solano worked a free-kick for the Turk to curl a left-foot effort just wide.

Eintracht took up where they had left off after the break, Streit collecting Takahara’s raking pass on the left and cutting inside before firing in a long-range shot which Taylor blocked.

Should Friedhelm Funkel’s side not make it through to the last 32, Amanatidis will have some explaining to do.

Just how he failed to head Takahara’s 50th-minute cross past the stranded Given was a mystery, and Streit was unable to convert the loose ball as the Premiership side escaped again.

It was to become something of a theme with Taylor having to block a Takahara effort before Streit sliced horribly wide from close range with the black and white shirts parting alarmingly once again.

The ball seemed to be following Taylor, and his side were grateful for that once again on 57 minutes when Weissenberger surged towards goal but fired his drive into the defender’s chest.

But the visitors might have taken the lead against the run of play four minutes later when Obafemi Martins, who had earlier replaced Albert Luque, worked hard to retrieve a long ball and cross from the right.

Sibierski did well to get in a header, but although he beat keeper Markus Proll, defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos hacked off the line.

Newcastle were defending with real character as the Germans went for broke, and although Given had to save twice from Amanatidis, he was under little pressure on either occasion.

Takahara glanced a header just wide 11 minutes from time, but Emre might have won it for the Magpies seconds later when he went one on one with Proll, but lost out.

Taylor’s 82nd-minute deflection as Takahara went for goal once again proved invaluable, but the same man could have won it at the death, only to lift his shot over the advancing Given, but also the crossbar.