Ventspils 0 Newcastle Utd 1On a night when safe passage was the overriding concern in every way, Newcastle United headed towards Riga airport hopeful that their flight back to Tyneside would proceed smoothly.
Glenn Roeder's side had a narrow victory to take with them, but satisfaction at that was mixed with the knowledge that the result was much better than Newcastle's performance against a Ventspils team knocked out of this competition last season by Linfield.
The hosts, playing at Skonto Riga's ground because their's is too small, were better than Irish League standard and made this an uneasy evening for Newcastle. Prior to Titus Bramble's 71st-minute winner, the visitors created only two good opportunities, a mark of a bitty, fitful overall display.
Bramble's clean header was out of keeping with the occasion, but it means Newcastle should now reach the Uefa Cup proper.
"We gave Ventspils as much respect as a Premier League opponent, Chelsea or Manchester United, and Ventspils have to be congratulated on their quality," a relieved Roeder said.
Roeder also poured cold water on a possible controversy for himself and the club. Having supplied the corner from which Bramble scored, Emre Belozoglu was substituted 10 minutes later and made straight for the dressing-room located behind the Ventspils net rather than to the dugout, and Roeder, on the halfway line. Emre's action smacked of petulance, but Roeder said it would have been "quite foolish" for the Turkish midfielder to go to the dugout only to then go to the tunnel.
"He had a slight knock and I don't want to take any chances with senior personnel."
Roeder could do without any problems because he has enough on his plate, and despite Bramble's goal-scoring effort, finding a new centre-half is high on the agenda. He said Newcastle are "getting closer every day to making two new signings." Thomas Gravesen is expected to be one of them.
Craig Moore was preferred here by Roeder alongside Bramble. It is a partnership that will entice any Premiership forward and the strikers of Ventspils looked as though they fancied their chances too. A simple combination of enthusiasm and a burst of early speed was enough for the Latvians to create the best opening of the first half. During it Moore was sucked out to the flank while Bramble missed a tackle on Igor Slesarcuks.
That left Slesarchuk with only Shay Given to beat, and not for the last time the Donegal man rescued his colleagues.
Newcastle were not seriously troubled again in the first half, but that should not be interpreted as a sign of them being comfortable. Ventspils were sprightly enough to push the Geordies back, and when Newcastle did manage to break that pattern Damien Duff was unpredictable.
There was some encouragement to be taken from Nicky Butt, Scott Parker and Shola Ameobi, though Ameobi should have added to his pre-season goals when teed up by Nolberto Solano on 27 minutes. Emre initiated that move with a sweeping crossfield pass, but Ventspils' Cameroon defender Jean-Paul Ndeki slid in to block the shot.
As the second half wore on Newcastle eased into territorial control. Duff and Parker each had a moment when they seemed about to score, and deft footwork by Ameobi brought a far-post header for Solano that drifted wide. That was three minutes before Bramble rose above Ndeki to power in Emre's corner.
FK VENTSPILS: Vanins, Ndjoumek-Ndeki, Kaspars Gorkss, Kacanovs, Bicka, Zangareeb, Dubensky (Kosmacovs 90), Vukovic, Kolefnicenko (Pokarynin 84), Butriks, Slesarchuk (Zizilevs 16). Subs not used: Davidovs, Sokolskis, Soleicuks, Stukalinas.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Moore, Bramble, Babayaro (Ramage 87), Solano (Milner 84), Emre (N'Zogbia 80), Duff, Parker, Butt, Ameobi. Subs not used: Harper, Luque, Taylor, O'Brien. Booked: Moore, Butt. Goals: Bramble 70.
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).
