Half time: Newcastle 0 Fenerbahce 0

79mins Visiting 'keeper Rustu was at fault as we took the lead, Taylor hooking a first time shot on goal that the 'keeper could only parry. It landed at the feet of Antoine Sibierski, who stabbed it into the Gallowgate goal from six yards for his second United strike in as many starts. 1-0

Full time: Newcastle 1 Fenerbahce 0

Glenn Roeder said of Sibierski:

"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.

"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."

On his own Turk:

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

"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."

On his limited defensive options:

"That is the way it is, we have always known that since the window closed.

"Individual errors are not done on purpose. We can only talk about them, work hard in training and hopefully eradicate them when it comes to the next game.

"I am limited for choice in the defensive part of the team, but nevertheless there are still one or two possibilities I could still try.

"We have spent some time as a team together. I do not just take the defence away on their own. Defending is about the rest of the team as well.

"I know the back four and the central defenders in particular have come in for some criticism, and they have to be big enough to accept what has come their way.

"We have sat down, we have viewed goals we have let in during this current season and looked at ways we could have done better and the way we need now to do better when defending.

"With the games coming up thick and fast, it is difficult to do too much punishing training - we want to make sure we do not leave their legs on the training ground and that we are fresh and ready for every game that comes along."

The goalscorer said:

"We had to win for them (the fans) against Fenerbahce.

"The main thing was to get the victory for the fans after what happened against Bolton.

"But that was also my first goal at St James' Park and that is very important for my confidence.

"Perhaps the fans did not expect me to sign for them before the transfer window, but I have to say they are brilliant and they have made me feel welcome with their support.

"That's important for me, even aged 32 you still need confidence and because they are great fans they give you that.

"We kept a clean sheet and we did very well on the night. We can be pleased with that and you always want to win at home. We played some good football, but we had to be patient.

"You have to remember that Fenerbahce are used to playing in the Champions League. They have been in that competition for a lot of years and you have to say that it's a great result.

"Their fans made a lot of noise but we silenced them and, from a confidence point of view, it was vital.

"I made many, many runs into the box and when you don't play every week you need to be very fit. My belief is that if you make enough runs and show enough commitment, you deserve to score. That's what happened - and with one touch I have found the net."

Steve Harper commented:

"I have waited five years for my chance and I am not giving it all up without a fight.

Zico (not Mick Martin) - pictured here arriving at Newcastle Airport commented:

"We have only lost the first game and there are other games to come.

"We hope we can win the next one and then the group will look completely different.

"But I am certain the group will be decided on the last day."

“What is important is that we go through. This is a group with some good teams, but I believe we have the necessary quality.”

Respite and relief then from the Premiership for Glenn Roeder - and for the first time this season, his positive words after a European victory were justified after his side had accounted for a club of decent standing.

And it was his lowest profile signing who got our group campaign off to an excellent start, saving the blushes in the process of his £10m strike partner - who once again looked glad to get off the field when his number came up.

There were no more vocal opponents of Sibierski's acquisition on deadline day than ourselves, but whatever he lacks in finesse or reputation he made up for tonight in sheer effort and work rate. He also deserves credit for soldiering on tonight despite taking a heavy knock in the first half that had Luque readying himself to replace him.

To contrast the Frenchman with the Spaniard is an interesting exercise - one expensive arrival doubtless on a big salary compared to a squad reinforcement on a comparative pittance who is now ahead in the queue for places. 

And guess which one has proved more use and less bother to us? - certainly only one can be labeled a professional...and it's not the Senor.   

Here, the Frenchman ran himself into the ground for the cause and was almost on his knees just before stirring himself once more to get into the box and claim the decisive goal. 

His celebration with the front row of the Gallowgate End was reminiscent of Kevin Keegan and like the man that signed him for City, he was probably glad of the brief respite as fans propped him up.


Nobody is pretending that this was a great performance by us and until that late goal this one looked to have 0-0 written all over it. 

However unlike Sunday's capitulation, we dominated throughout and kept focused on the task in hand - ultimately providing a measure of satisfaction in a job done for those fans who kept the faith after the last home game. 

People talk about the unrealistic expectations of the Newcastle crowd, but we quite simply want to see players in that shirt looking as if they are bothered about what their doing and visibly trying. 

Given the vast transfer fees and wages plus the significant outlay involved in not staying at home in front of the goggle box that surely isn't an unrealistic aspiration? 

But when we say bothered we don't mean in a badge-kissing, scarf-twirling way though, but by sheer graft. 

Witness James Milner, who had another frustrating night when he just could get past his man or deliver the killer pass, but was committed enough to set up our best chance of the first half by fighting for a lost cause on the byline - and kept going back for more without any histrionics when continually fouled in the closing stages.  

The side was re-shuffled after the Bolton disappointment with another a one-time reserve centre -back pairing of Peter Ramage and Steven Taylor reinstated instead of the "rested" Bramble and Moore.

With the visitors playing Kezman as a sole striker, the duo got through the game without too much trouble - Ramage looking far more assured back in his preferred position rather than in the full -back role that he's struggled with in recent weeks. 

Taylor did find himself horribly exposed on two occasions though and it's as well to remember that despite his fan-friendly demeanour and the familiarity that three years in the first team squad brings, he's still a 20 year-old learning the ropes. 

Damien Duff filled the problem left-back spot and although he was bizarrely the sponsor's man of the match, never looked comfortable in defence.

Back in the side were Charles N'Zogbia and James Milner on the flanks, with a less-than-100% Emre and Scott Parker in the middle. 

Steve Harper had sufficiently recovered from a  groin strain to take his place in goal, although he looked in obvious pain throughout the game and Ramage ended up taking kicks for him. 

With Pav ineligible, Tim Krul took a place on the bench but awaits his first team debut and had to be content with another half time workout on the pitch with goalkeeping coach Terry Gennoe. 

For Harper the night was mercifully trouble-free; what efforts the Turks managed more or less straight at him. Indeed his most worrying moments came from a couple of few unwelcome back passes that threatened to testing out his groin to breaking point.

Although Roeder's side had failed to capitalise on the good fortune handed them by officials in the last two home games, on this occasion they managed to pull off the morale-boosting victory that was at least in part due to a certain reticence on the part of the visitors to have a real go at us until it was too late.

Quite simply we wanted to win more than the visitors, who have problems of their own and a manager currently under fire for failing to meet the expectations of his team's large fanbase. We've heard that one before, boys and girls haven't we?

Biffa

Reports