A goal from debutant Antoine Sibierski secured Newcastle a vital win in Estonia in the first leg of the UEFA Cup 1st round clash.

Sibierski arrived at the far post to power home a free kick from Damien Duff after ten minutes to give Newcastle an advantage they never really looked like losing.

Bad news came out of the game though, not just that Newcastle once again failed to turn chances into goals but an already weakened defence missing Taylor and Babayaro through injury and Olivier Bernard through lack of match fitness has been weakened further as Titus Bramble was forced to come off injured in the first half.

200 Newcastle fans travelled to the game. The team sheet was as expected with only Shola Ameobi not making the starting eleven, he place was taken by Sibierski.

Newcastle's first chance of the game fell to Sibierski when Charles N'Zogbia broke down the left and delivered a low cross from which the Frenchman connected but thurned the ball wide.

He did not fail however on his next chance, Newcastle won a free kick on the edge of the box. Damien Duff stepped up to take and curled a free kick across the box where Sibierski rose to power in a header.

The game should have been plain sailing for Newcastle from this point but their game plan was disrupted when Levadia striker Nikita Andreev caught Titus Bramble and after a long extensive period of treatment Bramble was finally back up and on the pitch, but didn't last long as James Milner was brought on forced Damien Duff to play in the left back role.

In the second half and almost immediately Obafemi Martins had claims for a penalty after being dragged down in the box and three minutes later Levadia almost pulled level as Milner gave away possession, Craig Moore slipped and Vladimir Voskoboinikov cut in from the left and forced Shay Given into action who parried the shot to Emre and Emre failed clearance was fortunatly fired over the bar by Konstantin Vassiljev.

Martins came forward again determined to get a goal and was disappointed after making space for himself he then shot wide of the goal before Emre curled a free kick into the keepers arms.

Martins again continued to come forward and drilled a shot over the bar and in the final moments was set up by Scott Parker but fired wide from just outside the box.



What Roeder said:

"We have to be happy with a clean sheet and an away goal.

"I said before the game that I would be happy with that, and that's how it turned out.

"We got off to a great start with an early goal, and I felt we would go on and score more goals but it didn't pan out like that.

"I can't be too critical though, the lads tired a bit towards the end of the game but we did the job we had to do.

"The key thing for us now is to make sure we finish the job off in the return game at St. James' Park - and I am confident we will."



TEAM:  Given, Carr, Moore, Bramble (Milner 37), Ramage, Duff, Parker, Emre, N'Zogbia (Butt 73), Sibierski (Luque 80), Martins.