Upon seeing this result, an unkind commentator would doubtless have made the point that our inability to score against Olympique in three hours of play was due to us finally being pitted against decent opposition in the UEFA Cup.
                           
And while there is a grain of truth in that somewhat hard-hearted statement, it's worth recording that Marseille were arguably no better than PSV and both teams rely heavily on a talismanic striker.
                              
But it's a mistake to blame this defeat wholly on the absence of certain high-profile players.
                           
The injury to Woodgate against Chelsea can be said to be one absence too many, but equally we still await his first goal in United colours on a night when scoring was of even more importance than keeping them out due to the away goal situation.

No, the problems we encountered in the Velodrome were if anything more evident up the field than in the back four.

Looking at the midfield, our two alleged wide men failed to pose a threat to the home visitors and while it can be said with some justification that Ambrose was out of his depth, the case against Robert seems unanswerable.

He was certainly keen on getting people in to see his performance, apparently hoovering up as many complimentaries as possible, along with Bernard.

But those French natives rooting for him will surely have been as underwhelmed as the toon fans in the stadium and watching on TV.

Robert's contribution was as inept and uninvolved in this game as it had been in the first leg and in recent league matches, confirming that he won't even stir himself now for high-profile fixtures. And still he questions why he isn't in the national side.
                             
The only fancy footwork from the Frenchman this evening was when avoiding the objects thrown from the home terraces (which makes post-match noises about wanting to sign for these lot hilarious - at least our fans only boo him....)

And the only full backs he beat all evening were Bernard and Hughes, as he trotted quickly from the field.  
                             
Moving quickly on to Viana (something the player himself cannot obviously do) then there's simply nothing to say. Whether he played deep out of fear or team orders we'll never know, but his chief contribution to proceedings was some midfield flouncing to facilitate Drogba's opening goal. Why Bowyer was fit enough to come on at something approaching full throttle for once, but not start in place of this fop is a question for the manager to answer.                     
                     
And the strike force was something of a disaster, with Bridges apparently incapable of being used despite appearing on the bench and the perpetually glum Chopra scowling his way into apparent nationwide oblivion sometime soonish.

On another night (or in another life) either could have come on to do a job and give Shearer a break. As it was, neither look as if they are up to it, at least in Bobby's mind.

The vacancy up front was caused by the absence of Bellamy or Dyer and therefore of any discernible pace and the shackling of Shearer. That latter factor was partly due to the home defence but also the threat of suspension in the final that hung over him were he to incur a yellow card.
                                       
As a consequence, our number nine was a shadow of his usual self and lacking in the battles of strength and will he usually relishes - not only with opponents but also officials.

Shola at least showed some stomach for the fight and as a result was our best player and principal offensive threat, although being unable to get shots on target.
           
As a result, Barthez could admire the flags, flares and bonfire behind his goal and nod along to the songs of the Marseille crowd. There cannot have been too many 'keepers to have emerged victorious from a European Cup campaign having seen so little of the ball, at least in the second leg.

Realistically, our best chance of winning through to Gothenburg disappeared on the final whistle at St.James's Park. It remains a source of much disappointment and discontent among United fans though that we didn't give this more of a whirl, especially in the closing stages when an equaliser would really have put le chat dans les pigeones.

What amounted overall to a meek surrender suggests Marseille were the more talented side, but in reality they were merely more  committed, opportunistic and united in their approach than us.

Injuries shouldn't have made those factors the deciding ones - that's why those who followed the campaign across Europe and travelled here more in hope than expectation felt let down.                   
          
As our season continues to turn to dust, it's unclear when we'll next get the chance to participate at all in the hugely enjoyable adventure that is European football - let alone a semi-final. And the dreaded Intertoto Cup has even been spurned - did the same lackey who forgot to register Bowyer with UEFA also neglect to send our coupon off for that? 

But if as now seems likely, this game looks like being a European epitaph for Messrs Robson, Shearer and Speed then it's nothing short of tragic that we slipped out in such fitful fashion. What a bloody waste of time, money and airmiles.