Newcastle 3 Valeranga 1The scoreline looks convincing but Bobby Robson's side stumbled into the fourth round. Alan Shearer marked his return to European combat with a goal after being "rested" for the first leg but, starved of crosses, he struggled to impose himself.
Newcastle owed victory to a generous linesman and the half-time introduction of Shola Ameobi, whose two goals finally undid a feisty Valerenga.
Robson had reminded his charges they were "not playing 11 dustbins" and Valerenga swiftly sought to endorse his point. If the sight of Ardian Gashi dumping Shearer on his backside encouraged the 3,000-strong Norwegian fans, the early shot from David Hanssen which had Shay Given diving smartly to smother delighted them.
Deployed on the far left of a five-man back line, Hanssen, like David Brocken, his right-sided counterpart, had licence to advance when allowed but, generally, they were content to frustrate Newcastle by defending in depth.
Robson's men were controversially awarded a free-kick in the 19th minute when a linesman judged Oyvind Bolthof to have handled the ball fractionally outside his area as he prepared to launch a kick.Replays proved the goalkeeper did not touch the ball with his hand. Shearer hammered the free-kick, low through a thicket of legs and then Bolthof's hands.
Undeterred, Valerenga conjured an opening from which Gashi's right-foot, 25-yard chip forced Given into a fine one-handed save. It was a warning because from a 25th-minute corner the Norwegians equalised. Kjetil Rekdal's delivery fell to Erik Hagen, whose 10-yard volley appeared to strike Michael Bridges as it crossed the line.
Aiming to impress on his loan from Leeds, Bridges had, bar one early moment when he set up Shearer, struggled to impose himself on the right of midfield. He was far from the only home player lacking distinction during a first-half display which rather made a mockery of Craig Bellamy's prediction that Newcastle would perform "with all guns blazing." Indeed, an injured Bellamy was replaced by Ameobi at the interval.
Robson's team only threatened from set-plays. That said, Valerenga were relieved to see Titus Bramble screw a header wide after meeting a free-kick from Laurent Robert, who seemed strangely inhibited by Brocken's presence. There was no concealing Valerenga's dismay at some of the Dutch referee's decision, most notably the booking Hagen received for a tackle on Shearer after he appeared to have won the ball fairly.
The second period was only 75 seconds old when Ameobi cut in from the left and evaded two defenders before directing a right-foot shot at Bolthof, who let the ball squirm through his fingers. Bolthoff partly redeemed himself by parrying from Bridges.
Newcastle added an 89th-minute gloss to proceedings when Jermaine Jenas squared for Ameobi to sweep home his second goal .
NEWCASTLE: Given, O'Brien, Woodgate, Bramble, Hughes, Bridges (Brittain 76), Jenas, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy (Ameobi 45). Subs Not Used: Harper, Elliott, Viana, Orr, Taylor. Booked: Bramble, Hughes. Goals: Shearer 19, Ameobi 47, 89.
Valerenga: Bolthof, Brocken, Hagen, Kjetil Rekdal (Normann 70), Hovi, Hanssen (Waehler 65), Jalland, Gashi, Daniel Fredheim Holm, Berre, Dos Santos. Subs Not Used: Hjulstad, Bohinen, Ovrebo, Lund. Booked: Hagen, Brocken, Gashi. Goals: Hagen 25.
Referee: Eric Braamhaar (Holland).
