Newcastle v Fenerbahce

[Mighty T.A.L.]

The group stages of the Uefa Cup kick off on Thursday and Newcastle face an early test as they play host to Fenerbahce.

The Magpies' form has been patchy this term and they were booed off on Sunday after surrendering a lead against Bolton.

Manager Glenn Roeder is aware of the need for his side to eradicate the defensive errors and they will get a swift chance to atone.

Turkish side Fenerbahce provide the opposition and a crumb of comfort for Newcastle is that the game is on home soil rather than the intimidating atmosphere of Istanbul.

Three teams will progress from the five-sided groups and home form will be vital - with Roeder targeting three points.

"A victory must come first, it has to come first," he declared. "I would not be happy with 0-0.

"Victory must come first followed by a clean sheet. I would be extremely happy.

"That would be very important to the players, to the defenders - and not just the defenders, the team as a whole because defending should start from the front, back through midfield and ultimately the back four and the goalkeeper.

"A win must be the first thought but, secondly, it would be very nice to win with a clean sheet."

Roeder has a number of selection posers, with Shola Ameobi likely to face an 11th-hour fitness test on his hip.

Keeper Steve Harper is also doubtful and Dutch youngster Tim Krul is on standby to step in for his Newcastle debut.

Giuseppe Rossi is ineligible due to the terms of his loan deal from Manchester United, while Kieron Dyer is still thought to be a week away from fitness.

Fener will be no pushovers, although coach Zico has taken the pressure off his troops by admitting they travel to Tyneside as underdogs.

"In the Uefa Cup, the team who plays at home has the advantage," said the Brazilian.

"The home team will always be predicted to win the match. I think Newcastle would be the favourites."

Zico, who has Mateja Kezman and Tuncay Sanli in attack, will not send his side out in search of a draw, as he added: "Every game is difficult, and while we know the match with Newcastle United will be tough, we are coming here to try and get a positive result."

Celta Vigo, Eintracht Frankfurt and Palermo make up Group H and, interestingly, Zico added: "This is a very important game for us, but I wouldn't say it is the most difficult in the group.

"This is a big game - but it isn't decisive."

Source: http://home.skysports.com

[Pennywise]

Newcastle - Fenerbache 1-0

- Antoine Sibierski


Important win for The Magpies. We have to get three points in every home match and fight like dogs away to get a point...then we'll arrive to the next round.

Both Frankfurt and Palermo will be tough away, but I belive in a good result against Celta Vigo home. They're not that great away and they have started like N'castle in La Liga.

[Olzy]

I watched bits of this game. Harper couldnt take goal kicks.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sibierski delighted with win

Antoine Sibierski was thrilled to score the winning goal in Newcastle's 1-0 Uefa Cup victory over Fenerbahce.

The Magpies struggled to break down their Turkish opponents, but Sibierski seized on a mistake by goalkeeper Rustu Recber to clinch all three points for his side.

He accepts there was an element of fortune about the manner of Newcastle's victory, but believes the goal was just rewards for all his hard work.

"I deserved a bit of luck," Sibierski told Five.

"The ball came to my feet and the best chance is to kick it first touch, and that is what I did.

"Fortunately it went in and we won it thanks to that. I am very happy."

Source: http://home.skysports.com

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Glenn Roeder has backed Antoine Sibierski to prove himself to the Tyneside faithful, after the Frenchman again proved to be Newcastle's Uefa Cup hero.

The former Manchester City forward, who moved to St James' Park on a free transfer in August, scored the crucial goal as Newcastle began their Uefa Cup group stage campaign with a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce.

The goal is his second in the black and white shirt after the 32-year-old also notched the winner in the first leg of The Magpies' first round tie against Levadia Tallinn, and Roeder expects the player to keep up his hot streak.

"I only knew him as a player, I did not know him as a person, but he made a good impression on me straight away when he came to the club, and the rest of the squad," said Roeder.

"Maybe because he was not particularly received, that has given him the motivation to prove a few people wrong and he is doing it in the best manner, by playing well and scoring a couple of goals.

"Even if he had not scored, his performance was excellent, his hold-up play, his laying the ball off, finding his team-mates was very good.

"He must have covered a lot of ground throughout the 90 minutes. He is delighted with his own performance and rightly so - and so are his team-mates.

"There are more goals in him in the rest of the season, and he is very versatile."

Roeder was delighted by his team's performance against the Istanbul side.

"It was very pleasing and it was deserved. We have beaten a well above average European team - they are a very good team, Fenerbahce," added Roeder.

"They certainly gave us a hard test. I was conscious of them breaking quickly on the counter-attack but for me, it was the perfect result, to score one and keep that elusive clean sheet, which we have not done for a while.

"I said it was vital that we won the first home game, which we have done. I believe if you win your two home games, it will give you a great opportunity to qualify.

"And if you can pick up a point or two out of your two away games, you should go through to the knockout stage.

"But there is a long way to go, and I think Fenerbahce will pick up points in Turkey.

"I have to say I am glad we played them here."

The win over the Turks was all the more impressive given goalkeeper Steve Harper and playmaker Emre were forced to play through the pain barrier.

Although Emre's back complaint eventually forced his second half withdrawal.

"Emre picked up a slight knock in training yesterday, which we managed to keep quiet," added Roeder.

"There was no possible way that Emre could not play tonight. With his connections with Galatasaray, he felt he would have created a bad impression in Turkey had he not started the game even though he was starting with a slight injury.

"While he was on, he was a very, very important player to us, and we are very lucky to have him."

Source: http://home.skysports.com

[oxfordblues]

Thu 19 20:00 H Fenerbahce UEFA W 1-0 ATTENDANCE 30,035 BIG CLUB NOT

[kennethlindheim]

Good result against a good team. Nice to get a clean sheet aswell. Scrappy goal but who gives a ****?

Very pleased about the result.

[kyan]

it must have been refreshing to see no bramble or boumsong!

i thought ramage and taylor were quite good, much better than the last partnership altho taylor got caught out a couple of times, ramage recovered well for him tho. i think newcastle should keep trying these 2 together because theres a lot of potential there

[kennethlindheim]

I prefer Moore and Ramage at this moment.