Number 1 - Comments

An 89th minute penalty from Hatem Ben Arfa saw Newcastle beat Bristol City to hold onto top spot.

A tight game looked as though it was about to end goalless between the struggling Robins and the high-flying Magpies, when with time running out, Chris Foy awarded Newcastle a controversial penalty that Ben Arfa converted and scored to give Newcastle three points.

It was tough on the home side, who had done very well to match their high-flying visitors, but ultimately, the visitors were the team to take the victory in this fixture.

Robins manager Krasmir Balakov had been hopeful of a good result to start Bristol City's season at home. The team got their first win of the campaign in a crazily 5-4 win at fellow early strugglers Fulham the previous weekend, but an even bigger scalp was the prospect in the form of a Newcastle team that had taken the top spot in the Premier League table in their previous match.

Bristol City had the game's first opportunity when Liam Fontaine leaped high to reach Daniel Opare's cross, but couldn't keep his shot's direction below the bar.

Michael Lumb was then presented with a similar opportunity to get a goal for Bristol City, but he was also only able to direct a free header into the crowd.

By contrast, it was Newcastle who had the game's first shot on target, when Gabriel Obertan saw a drive firmly turned away from goal by Adriano Basso.

Newcastle then thought they should have been given a penalty only for Joey Barton's appeals following a challenge on him to be ignored, before Stijn Schaars hit the ball wide.

Ben Arfa was similarly inaccurate with a free-kick, before Basso made a firm stop to deny Andy Carroll as Newcastle looked likelier to score. But the sensation of frustration with Newcastle's finishing continued when Schaars blasted a free-kick over the top.

Bristol City were then given a chance to punish Newcastle for their profligacy at the start of the second half, only for David Clarkson to get his geometry completely wrong.

Newcastle were then dealt a blow when Gabriel Obertan fractured ribs in a seemingly innocuous collision with Tommy Sparr, which led to the winger being taken off the pitch and with an injury confirmed post-match will rule him out for a month.

Newcastle's miserable luck was almost protracted, when David Opare was picked out and hit a venomous drive that rattled the woodwork.

As the game progressed towards the final whistle, the margins became tighter, with the increasing air the two squads were going to be equal through to the end of the game.

Bristol City almost took advantage when Tim Krul fumbled Clarkson's angled drive, but Newcastle were able to scramble it out for a corner. The resulting free-kick was more comfortable for the Newcastle goalkeeper, who pushed away Marvin Elliott's header.

The game had the sense of a fixture where the first team to blink would be in big trouble. Unfortunately for the home crowd, it was they who did so. Spurr was caught out of position when Danny Simpson passed for Milner, and the home full back fouled the visitors summer signing of Milner.

To howls of protest from home players and fans, a penalty was awarded. Ben Arfa stepped up and scored his first away goal since joining from Marseille to seemingly give Newcastle the victory.

Newcastle held on to the lead until the end of the contest, which ensured they would retain top spot in the Premier League. Certainly, those who made the long trip would have hoped for something more decisive, but they will nevertheless be happy with the result. They now face a trip out to Portugal to face FC Porto in the Champions League in mid-week as they seek to carry on an impressive opening of the season.

By contrast, Bristol City will be feeling flat after this result, with the Robins doing well to match the Magpies, only to be pipped at the last, and they will be disconsolate but hoping for better in next weekend's seemingly vital clash at Birmingham City.

Bristol City: Basso - Carey, McCombe, Fontaine (Maynard 66), Spurr (Nyatanga 90) - Opare (Orr 72), Skuse, Elliott, Lumb - Clarkson, Haynes
Subs not used: Fielding, Beevers, Marti, Johnson
Booked: Fontaine

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton (Edgar 90), Schaars - Obertan (Holtby 54), Ben Arfa, Milner - Carroll (Suarez 61)
Subs not used: Begovic, Ariaudo, Bender, Smith
Booked: Jose Enrique

Scorer: Ben Arfa (pen 89)

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 17,905

Hatem Ben Arfa and Joey Barton goals took Newcastle to top spot in the Premier League after victory over Hull.

The French attacking midfielder broke the deadlock against the newly promoted Tigers, and Newcastle could and probably should have scored more after dominating the game.

In the end, they only added one more goal, which was a penalty converted by Barton in second half stoppage time. But the two goals were enough for Newcastle to take three points, and with it, move to top of the Premier League table for the first time since the opening stages of the 2010/11 season.

It was a move that continues Newcastle's good start to the season. They entered this contest disappointed to have been held by early surprise package Burnley, but still unbeaten since August and looking to assert a campaign for a first top flight title since 1927.

Despite that, it was a Hull team who have struggled early on this season who almost struck first, with Tim Krul making a nice save to stop Stijn Schaars' inadvertently scoring an own goal from Matthew Etherington's corner.

Newcastle's first opportunity was also inadvertent in nature, with James Milner's cross almost floating in but for a stop by Boaz Myhill.

A long-ranger from Barton landed over the top, before Myhill was tested in more conventional style, when the goalkeeper made a strong stop to deny Luis Suarez a first league goal since April.

Suarez's cross was then deflected away off Brian Easton, before a Danny Simpson cross was flicked on by Sebastien Bassong to Milner, whose header was straight at Myhill.

Myhill then made a flying stop to keep out Moussa Dembele's diving header, as the early stages saw Newcastle look much likelier to find the breakthrough.

They duly managed it on 25 minutes. A counter-attack saw the ball played across field by Suarez to Milner, who had initially tried a pass to release Barton down the centre. Instead, a deflection off Paul McShane sent the ball into the path of Ben Arfa, who broke through on goal and scored.

Ben Arfa is having a great start to his time on Tyneside since joining from Marseille on transfer deadline day. This was his third goal for the club, and he already looks at home in the Premier League.

Having played a part - unintentional or otherwise - in Newcastle's opener, McShane almost made amends, but he couldn't keep his header down from the resulting corner.

Myhill then a simple catch to keep out Suarez's header, before a fantastic stop by Myhill tipped Jan Vertonghen's header onto the crossbar from a corner.

Hull's keeper then made another stop, with Myhill making a fingertip save to deny Dembele finding the bottom corner with a drive.

The final stages saw the chances falling the way of Newcastle, with Ben Arfa seeing a swerving drive narrowly miss the target.

Hull manager Phil Brown was urging his players to go forward, but it was still his goalkeeper being the one making stops, with Myhill making a save late in the half to deny Barton.

The second half continued with Newcastle's attack looking lively, and they thought they had number two when Ben Arfa's pass picked out Dembele, and the Belgian finished it. But the referee decided that Dembele had strayed beyond the last man, which was a judgement Newcastle's players, management and fans did not look amused with.

Hull then began to show some attacking intent, with the team upset they didn't get a penalty for a challenge by Schaars on Kamel Ghilas, before Nathan Doyle hit the side-netting.

A sweeping run down the right flank by Bernard Mendy then spawned an opportunity for Ghilas to shoot, but he got his angles horribly wrong.

Newcastle's attack had taken its foot off the gas for most of the half, but perhaps sensing the game was not over, they then duly woke up again, with Suarez firing wide as the Magpies begun to sense a second goal.

A 30-yard-ball from Dembele then released Suarez, but in keeping with his uncomfortable season so far, the Uruguayan striker was denied by the goalkeeper.

With time running out, it looked like one goal might be enough, although Newcastle's attempt to hold out weren't helped by a late injury to Dembele, which will rule him out for three weeks.

But despite that, Newcastle then had a late attack yield a penalty. Referee Howard Webb ruled Doyle's shirt-pull on Barton was enough to deny him reaching Milner's cross, and with it, justification for a Newcastle penalty.

Hull's howls of derision were not enough to change the referee's mind, and Barton dusted himself to score his first goal of the season from 12 yards.

It was the end of the contest there and then, and Newcastle will have been extremely satisfied with their nights work. They will certainly be hopeful this result could be the spark from which an unlikely title challenge can be mounted. Hull, by contrast, will want to forget their desperately poor show here, and bounce back down the road at Newcastle's North East rivals Sunderland on Saturday.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton, Schaars (Jones 67) - Milner, Ben Arfa (Bender 88), Dembele - Suarez (Carroll 80)
Subs not used: Begovic, Ariaudo, Obertan, Holtby
Booked: Simpson

Scorer: Ben Arfa (25), Barton (pen 90+3)

Hull: Myhill - Shannon (Haimovic 45), Zayatte, McShane, Easton - Mendy, Bullard, Marney (Doyle 45), Etherington - Fabbiani (Fagan 61), Ghilas
Subs not used: Haillwell, Fernandes, Cooper, Jarvis
Booked: Zayatte, Fabbiani, Doyle

Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 56,162

Rasmus Elm was stretchered off as Newcastle drew with surprise package Burnley at St. James' Park.

The Clarets' impressive start to the campaign continued as they got a share of the points against the highly rated Geordies, who laboured to only one shot on target.

Their gameplan was also hit by Elm tearing a calf muscle, which will leave him out for four months. Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson also confirmed his replacement Ryan Donaldson twisted an ankle and while he was able to complete the game, he will be out for 2 weeks.

Things had been different at the start of play for Newcastle, who knew victory could see them end the weekend top of the Premier League. A good start to the campaign has seen them begin nicely in building on last year's top four finish, although a Burnley team who have started equally well and currently reside in the top six was a tougher test than many anticipated.

It was the Magpies who had the first opportunity of the fixture, but Gabriel Obertan couldn't keep his header down when he was picked out by Lewis Holtby's free-kick.

Burnley were more accurate with their first opportunity, as Steven Fletcher saw a menacing drive well blocked by Tim Krul.

Martin Paterson saw a drive deflected wide as they sensed a chance to continue their upward curve with victory in the North East, and the striker then came even closer when he reached Fletcher's knockdown and saw a neat low drive tipped off target by Krul.

Newcastle had two chances to try and find themselves a way through, but Hatem Ben Arfa saw a drive hit the side-netting, before Elm's long range effort touched the bar on its way into the stands.

Danny Guthrie saw a free-kick deflected wide on his first return to the team that released him in the summer, and from the resulting corner, a free header from Slobodan Rajkovic thumped the crossbar and bounced clear.

Guthrie was then booked for a robust tackle on Elm that left the Swedish midfielder on a stretcher, and out of the game.

Elm was replaced by Donaldson, and the youngster saw a firm drive fly beyond Diego Penny only for the crossbar to be rattled.

A long distance effort from Ben Arfa then landed wide of the mark, before Rajkovic's superb defensive header take Lewis Holtby's cross narrowly away from Moussa Dembele's loitering feet.

The first chance of the second half fell the way of Burnley, with Fletcher receiving a pass from Miles Addison only to be denied by the Newcastle goalkeeper.

Both sides then became more interested in fouling, with niggly fouls and bookings superceding attacking intervention for a long stretch of the half.

Some nifty Newcastle pressure ultimately came to nothing, before Burnley were presented with, and then twice spurned, the chance of the half.

It came when the ball fell in the area for the unlikely source of Kevin McDonald, whose first effort was saved by Krul and whose second effort landed amongst the supporters behind the goal.

That took the sting, and it quickly became apparent both sides were lacking fluidity and ability to break the deadlock, with the game beginning to drift towards a scoreless conclusion.

The chance for a winner then fell the way of Luis Suarez in the 91st minute, with the Uruguayan reaching James Milner, only for the chance to be denied by Penny.

That duly solidified the likelihood of Newcastle and Burnley sharing the points, and the referee ended the game, and with it, the probability of the game ending in anything other than scoreless. As a result, the two teams share points that do little to go towards their respective European opportunities, and they will go on to the next game looking for better things.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Donaldson 35), Schaars - Obertan (Milner 64), Ben Arfa, Holtby - Dembele (Suarez 75)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariaudo, Bender
Booked: Bassong, Donaldson

Burnley: Penny - Matheu, Rajkovic, Carlisle - Tom (Caldwell 35), Guthrie, McDonald, Addison, Munteanu (Driver 17) - MacDonald, Rodriguez
Subs not used: Bywater, Tony, Moon, Mears
Booked: Guthrie, Addison

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 55,629

Even so, two home wins in a year is pretty shocking.

Maybe he'll re-surface at a League One club.

Thanks.

Hopefully we can keep this up - I don't expect a title challenge but while board and media expect top six I want a top four place minimum. Plenty of time to seal our slot

Well fuck me we won a game and Roger from American Dad scored the winning goal. Good times.

Maybe we should break parts of the stadium and delay kick-off more often

I was about to say "Oh ffs not Gouffran again" following our latest stupid teamsheet, but inexplicably, it appears our dodgy application of a new stadium scoreboard means the game might be called off.

Would be typical NUFC if it happened tbh.

Newcastle missed several good chances as they drew with Portuguese giants FC Porto in the Champions League.

The Magpies had the better chances and created more opportunities against the surprisingly sub-par top seeds in Group B, but they were unable to get the crucial goal, with inaccurate shooting and a good performance by Porto's Brazilian goalkeeper Helton keeping the score level for the 90 minutes.

With Juventus thrashing FC Twente in Italy, it means that the Portuguese, English and Italian sides are all level on points after three games played, with a space in the next round now seemingly beyond the Dutch team.

The game promised to be an interesting contest. Porto maybe regular group stage entrants in the Champions League, but have yet to really come close to their 2004 triumph, while Newcastle entered the Champions League as 4th seeds but had started very well in their first appearance at this level since 2003.

Porto were presented with the games first opportunity when Victor Ramos rose high to a corner, but the centre back could only head a corner over the top of the goal.

Newcastle's first chance fell to Joey Barton after he picked Ruben de la Red's pocket, but his shot was woefully inaccurate.

The two teams had moments of pressure but nothing too concentrated in a lot of the early stages, before a great chance fell the way of Moussa Dembele, only for the Belgian's drive to land nowhere near the target.

Barton's free-kick landed nowhere near the target a few moments later. When pressure did appear in the final 20 minutes of the half, it was Newcastle who were looking likelier, but it wasn't manifesting itself in clear cut opportunities.

Newcastle then created an accurate opportunity in the final moments of the first half, with Ryan Donaldson seeing a firm drive tipped clear by Helton. Sebastien Bassong was then presented a chance after a succession of opportunities, but the Cameroonian centre back saw his header land off target.

Helton then made a lovely stop to deny Danny Simpson's firm long-ranger in the final minutes of the half, as the Magpies looked like the likelier to find their way through.

Porto saw a chance go begging when Garry Carr's drive landed over the top of the goal, That was the only chance for a lot of the early stages of the second half, with neither side really able to find themselves a way through.

But just after the hour, a great chance fell the way of Newcastle. Donaldson cued up Gabriel Obertan, who advanced and hit a firm strike that was very nicely stopped by Helton.

Newcastle put on some heavy pressure, but Porto nearly scored on the break when Carr was picked out only to hit wide. Similar inaccuracy then came from Alvaro Periera, who also hit a week effort over the top of the goal.

Tim Krul was tested for the first time after 83 minutes, when he grabbed onto Periera's drive, although in truth, his drive was an easy catch and was going wide.

Lewis Holtby and Rasmus Elm then both missed drives as Newcastle made a break for a late winner. In the 94th minute, Newcastle then had a great chance, only for Helton to make a wonderful stop to deny Jan Vertonghen.

In the end, the points were hared, and with both teams plus Juventus now on five points, the battle to get out of Group B will be a tight one in the final three fixtures. Both teams will be looking for the vital win when they meet in two weeks time at the Estadio Dragao.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Barton - Obertan, Donaldson (Milner 75), Holtby (Carroll 90) - Dembele (Suarez 75)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Schaars
Booked: Barton

Porto: Helton - Hogli (Kucher 90), Alves, Ramos, Eichner (Rodriguez 90) - Diego Castro, Carr, Simao, De La Red, Periera - Hulk
Subs not used: Jesus, Nelson, Webster, Coelho, Falcao
Booked: De La Red

Referee: Vladimir Hrinak
Attendance: 56,387

I thought Pardew talking about Ebola in his press conference yesterday was an odd choice of a pre-match topic but Swansea are apparently considering an all-out ban on players leaving for international duty in Africa.

The ACON itself next year is in Morocco, which is out of the way of the outbreak, but even so, its an interesting discussion to have.

Ryan Donaldson's first goal of the season saw Newcastle come from behind to beat Birmingham City.

Birmingham's quest for a third win in four after recent wins at Everton and Fulham saw Christian Benitez score in first half stoppage time. But Gabriel Obertan's last act before being substituted got them level, before substitute Donaldson picked out the back of the net to give Newcastle three points in the West Midlands.

It was another comeback victory for Newcastle, who had come from behind to beat Sheffield United in their last game, and they will be pleased to continue their decent start.

Despite a number of spare seats in St. Andrews, this was a game Newcastle fans travelling from the North East had been excited for, with the fans looking for a tonic ahead of a Champions League clash with Porto on Wednesday night.

They were on the front foot immediately and nearly scored in the first minute. Alex Smithies had to make a double stop to deny Hatem Ben Arfa's diving header, and then Lewis Holtby's rebound, with both individual stops of very good quality.

Smithies then made another good stop to deny Ben Arfa, but bizarrely, this was not enough to stop him leaving the field on seven minutes, with an injury to Sebastien Larsson seeing Birmingham change their keeper as well as the injured Swede.

After a bit of time Birmingham reorganised themselves while coping with Newcastle, the hosts came close when Benitez had a free header but could only force a save out of Tim Krul.

The first half was of a very sedate nature, with very little resembling a chance created at either end of the field. For most of the game, the only thing that seemed to be a chance fell to Franco di Santo, but the Birmingham frontman's shot was woefully off target.

Wojech Kowalewski had an easy stop to make to deny Ben Arfa in the final moments of first half normal time, but in added time, Birmingham had a chance, and with it, the advantage.

A counter-attack saw the ball flicked on by di Santo to Benitez, who started his run from his own half and ran free and unhindered to meet the flight of the ball. He advanced up the box, before shimmying away from Krul and tucking home.

The striker's smart finish had given Birmingham a surprise lead over Newcastle, and the Blues were very nicely poised following an extremely quiet encounter.

Newcastle were poor, and after an underwhelming Rasmus Elm drive was easily gathered by Kowalewski, it looked as though they might continue in such a vein.

di Santo nearly made Newcastle's misery worse, but the Argentine striker's effort was not a good one, and Krul had an easy catch.

The striker would rue the failure to take his effort even more moments later. A concise forward ball picked out Lewis Holtby, who easily ran around Juan Valera before crossing in a smart ball that Obertan met, and the French winger duly headed into the corner of the net.

That may have been his last contribution before being substituted from the playing field, but it was crucial, because Newcastle were now on level terms, and hopeful of coming back to find victory in the contest.

Elm was almost on the scoresheet with a strike of his own, and his trademark long range strike did beat the keeper, but struck the crossbar and bounced clear.

Birmingham then hit the goal frame themselves, with Angel Viera's free-kick swerving before colliding with a post and rebounding into touch.

Kowalewski then made a lovely stop to deny Donaldson as the game moved into the home straight, before Krystian Pearce blocked Luis Suarez's attempt.

But Newcastle's forward array was always going to provide a menace, and it proved to be decisive in the final moments. Jofre was dispossessed by Danny Simpson, who cued it up for Suarez. The Uruguayan laid it back for Simpson, whose incisive cross was perfectly placed for Donaldson, and the substitute's header careered into the goal.

A first goal since April for the academy graduate, and the Newcastle attacking midfielder was clearly relieved to finally have a goal after being off the scoresheet for so long.

Birmingham spent the majority of the remainder trying in vain for a equaliser, but it was a dispiriting defeat for Blues fans after their recent form had seen them escape the relegation zone. The Blues fans have seen their heroes enjoy a reasonable reintroduction to Premier League life, but they will be hoping for more.

Newcastle's good form has seen them begin the new season very nicely, and they will be hopeful of another good result when they host Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Birmingham: Smithies (Kowalewski 7) - Valera, Pearce, Murillo, Angel - O'Shea, De Guzman, Larsson (Jara 7), Feghouli (Jofre 51) - Benitez, di Santo
Subs not used: Tonetto, O'Hare, Olsen, Kanoute
Booked: Valera, Pearce, de Guzman, Jara

Scorer: Benitez (45+3)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Donaldson 66), Barton - Obertan (Suarez 56), Ben Arfa, Holtby - Dembele (Schaars 83)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariaudo, Milner
Booked: Jose Enrique, Vertonghen, Barton

Scorer: Obertan (55), Donaldson (85)

Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 19,512

Sebastien Bassong scored in the 82nd minute as Newcastle came from behind to beat Sheffield United.

It looked as though the South Yorkshire club might find their first victory of the Premier League season when Matt Derbyshire gave the home side the lead. But Newcastle levelled the contest up through Moussa Dembele, before a late strike from Bassong ensured Newcastle would return north with three points to their name.

Defeat was harsh on the Blades, who did well to take the lead and looked good in patches against their more expensively assembled opposition, but ultimately, it was not enough.

Most of the Blades fans that had made the trip into this historical football stadium did not arrive with confidence. The Blades hadn't won a league match since beating Burnley on April 21st, while Newcastle have started the season continuing their impressive form from the end of last season as they look for a second consecutive top four finish.

Sheffield United almost took the lead from kick-off. Boyhood Newcastle fan Adam Johnson was nicely picked out by Ched Evans' cross, but the winger's header was an easy catch for Tim Krul.

Rasmus Elm's first long range attempt of the afternoon was Newcastle's first chance, but the Swedish midfielder's drive was inaccurate.

Closer to the target was former Leeds winger James Milner - booed on his return to Yorkshire - who saw a low drive deflected wide off Liam Ridgewell.

The game was a niggly tight affair, with the only thing approaching an opportunity appearing when Adam Johnson's drive was blocked by Bassong.

Brian Murphy's first test took half an hour in creation, although in reality, it wasn't the toughest test he has ever faced, with the Blades keeper making an easy stop to deny Elm's daisy cutter.

Sheffield United were having the best of a tightly poised game, and nearly took the chance when Matty Kilgallon strode in ahead of Elm to meet Evans' poised free-kick, only for Krul to deny him.

The Blades then won another free-kick, which picked out Liam Ridgewell, only for the centre back's header to career into touch.

Newcastle then created a chance of their own when Dembele released Hatem Ben Arfa, only for the Frenchmen's drive to pick out the side netting.

Ben Arfa was then presented with another opportunity to get a goal, only for the French attacking midfielder's attempt at goal to land somewhere nowhere near the goal.

The second half begun with a chance straight from kick-off for Newcastle, but Dembele couldn't get his shot on target.

The Belgian's miss quickly proved costly. Joey Barton was dispossessed in the middle of the turf by Nick Montgomery, who laid it forward for Evans. A 30 yard ball forward went beyond Jan Vertonghen to Derbyshire, who broke free and finished.

A runaway goal by the former Blackburn striker, who had given his team a seemingly crucial advantage. Elm led protests by Newcastle that the goal was offside, but these calls fell on deaf ears.

Newcastle almost got instant parity, but Ben Arfa's drive was beaten away by Murphy as the Blades maintained their advantage.

The lively Adam Johnson nearly got the goal his efforts deserved, but his eventual shot after a run was simple for Krul to deal with.

Newcastle were still probing for a goal back, and came close when Gabriel Obertan rose to a cross only for his header to miss the goal.

But the Magpies had been knocking on the door for most of the half and made it count 14 minutes into the half. Barton was first to a poor defensive clearance by Roger Johnson, and was able to control the ball before advancing towards the goal. His incise pass then released Dembele, who evaded the home defence, kept his composure, and scored.

A clinical finish from the Belgian, who had a poor first campaign in black and white stripes but is looking at home after his redeployment as a central striker.

Murphy then had to pull off superb acrobatics to avoid being beaten twice in as many minutes, with a swerving drive by Elm expertly met by the home team's goalkeeper.

Murphy then made another spectacular stop, this time to deny Ben Arfa, as Newcastle begun to probe heavily.

But the visiting pressure fizzled out, and the Blades almost took advantage when former Newcastle player Ryan Taylor picked out Evans, only for the Welshman to head over.

Much closer was Evans on his next attempt, who rose to a cross with ease but could only find the superbly positioned gloves of Krul.

Newcastle then had a chance fall their way, and Elm's long range free-kick did beat Murphy, but not his post, with the ball bouncing free after its impact with the woodwork.

Murphy then made a simple stop from Dembele as Newcastle tried to probe their way through, and then they nearly got the goal when Lewis Holtby had a half-volley saved by Murphy.

But Newcastle found a breakthrough in the final minutes. Holtby's quick corner picked out Bassong, and Newcastle's captain buried the ball home.

A crisp strike from the central defender, who scored his first goal of the season and with it gave Newcastle a chance at registering themselves a comeback victory.

Newcastle should have made the three points secure seconds later, but Luis Suarez inexplicably passed the ball wide of the post than into the net when superbly positioned, and his wait for a first Premier League goal since April continued.

The Magpies were lucky not to pay for that, with Evans denied by Krul and only a fine intervention by Lewis Holtby denying Jason Grainger shooting room.

That proved to be enough for Newcastle. The Magpies had their victory that they had secured a nice comeback win. Some fans may later look back and wish they had assembled a crushing win, but they will be pleased to nevertheless leave a testing assignment in South Yorkshire three points richer.

Sheffield United will be quite crushed to have taken the lead against their expensively assembled opponents only to fail to take anything. Their quest continues against Newcastle's North East neighbours Sunderland in their next game after the international break.

Sheffield United: Murphy - Baird (Grainger 83), Roger Johnson, Ridgewell, Kilgallon - Taylor, Montgomery (Harper 83), Koren, Adam Johnson (Quinn 89) - Derbyshire, Evans
Subs not used: Bunn, Lamas, Salamon, Armstrong
Booked: Montgomery

Scorer: Derbyshire (47)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Barton - Milner (Holtby 68), Ben Arfa (Suarez 79), Obteran (Donaldson 74) - Dembele
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariaudo, Schaars
Booked: Jose Enrique

Scorer: Dembele (58), Bassong (82)

Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 26,220

Shawcross will be a pain in the arse to buy from AC Milan, and Ivanovic is going to be pricey at Chelsea. Ron Vlaar might be a good signing from Le Mans.

I'm more looking for an upgrade on Danny Simpson at right-back, although he is a consistent performer so I'd need something that would be considered a significant upgrade on our current first choice.

Thanks

Been doing very very well since the reboot.

Moussa Dembele and Gabriel Obertan got the goals to give Newcastle a win over Twente in the Champions League.

The Magpies first win in Europe's premier club competition since beating Bayer Leverkusen in 2003 came through a first half goal by Newcastle's in-form Belgian attacker, and then a goal just before the hour by Obertan, which were blows that the visitors could not respond from.

It was an unsatisfying return to the North East for Twente boss Steve McClaren, who was making only his third managerial return to England since being sacked by the national team in 2007.

McClaren had an inconsistent record against Newcastle as manager of Middlesbrough, and failed to win either of his visits to England with Twente away at Arsenal in 2008 and Everton in 2010.

They had also been beaten in their Champions League opening fixture at home to Porto, and had presumably been hopeful of a victory against the surprise Champions League qualifiers from last season.

Presumably averse of suffering a hammering that would have severely damaged their chances of progressing into the next round of the competition, Twente's defensively minded starting eleven started well in frustrating the hosts, with Newcastle struggling to make early opportunities.

Indeed, it took 19 minutes for one of the two teams to create anything resembling a chance. That chance fell to Rasmus Elm, but the Swedish midfielder's half volley was deflected off target.

The game was of a surprisingly tight nature, before Twente then had the game's best chance, when a bold hit by Ronnie Stam beat Tim Krul but firmly rattled the bar rather than the net.

Newcastle were still finding chance creation a bigger challenge than they have been in the Premier League, and when they did get a chance with 34 minutes on the clock, they failed to make it count, with Obertan's wild hit nowhere near the goal.

It took Newcastle 39 minutes to make their first attempt on target, but that proved to be just what they needed. A counter-attack started by a superb tackle by Danny Simpson on Bryan Ruiz released James Milner, who flew down the right flank before releasing Luis Suarez. Expected to shoot, the former Ajax striker instead released Dembele, who advanced and finished.

A second goal in five days for the Belgian striker, who is finally adjusting to life in the black and white stripes of Newcastle United after a difficult first season playing for the club.

Newcastle then almost made it two in the moments before half-time when Dembele released Milner, only for a save by his former Aston Villa teammate Brad Guzan to deny him.

While the first half had proved challenging for Newcastle's attack, the second started with much more easily yielding opposition. Guzan made a nice stop to deny Obertan before Danny Simpson saw a long range effort just touch the woodwork.

Twente's best chance had seen Theo Janssen force a simple stop out of Tim Krul, and they almost fell further behind when Guzan made a flying stop to deny Dembele.

Despite that, Newcastle still looked dangerous and soon doubled their lead. A free-kick was given for a foul by Stam on Elm, and Milner's free-kick released Obertan, whose powerful header sailed beyond Guzan.

A perfectly placed header by the winger, which looked to have given his team a winning margin in this encounter.

Another one of Elm's trademark long range goals almost made the margin even greater, but the ball landed inches past the wrong side of the post.

A free-header saw Ruiz almost bring Twente back into the contest, but he couldn't find the target.

A superb pass by Stijn Schaars then released Obertan, but Guzan superbly tipped his piledriver away from goal.

Obertan and substitute Andy Carroll then missed late chances to give Newcastle a three goal margin as the game begun to wind down, while Marc-Antoine Fortune hit a long ranger over in Twente's best attempt to gain pride.

In the end, victory was for the home team, and they were undoubtedly elated in obtaining three points in the Champions League, and after four points from their opening two games, they sit in a rosier position than many had given them anticipation of doing. Newcastle will now be hopeful of continuing further when they face Porto in their next tie.

It was another disappointing return to England for McLaren, and he will now be hoping for a result against Juventus to avoid the sensation his team are heading straight towards bottom spot in this group.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Barton 81), Schaars - Milner, Dembele, Obertan (Carroll 81) - Suarez (Donaldson 88)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Bender
Booked: Jose Enrique, Bassong, Schaars

Scorer: Dembele (39), Obertan (59)

Twente: Guzan - Koubsky (Grunholz 82), Linko, Douglas, Verberne (Samaras 60) - Sabri Sarioglu (Jansma 45), Stam, Brama, Janssen, Ruiz - Fortune
Subs not used: Jarstein, Berger, Molenaar, Tozser

Referee: Andrea de Marco
Attendance: 55,621

He has confirmed the police talked to him but did not arrest him. An Albanian fan group called The Smugglers took credit on Facebook, but they may just be trying to look like a bigger deal than they are.

Ivanovic has said Serbia wanted to continue but Albania refused.

Second half strikes from Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Dembele saw Newcastle take three points against Fulham.

The visitors from London had actually created the better chances of the first half, but their profligacy was punished by Ben Arfa's second goal in as many home games for his new club.

The game was wrapped up when Dembele scored with his only touch after appearing as a final minutes substitute, and it ensured Newcastle won continued their decent start.

Fulham will be disheartened by this result, which prolongs their winless start to the new season.

Things might have gone differently had Fulham scored with an attack they worked out straight from kick-off. A firm stop cross by Andy Johnson, who picked out James Henry, only for the winger's header to be straight at Tim Krul.

Johnson then had a chance of his own when he was first to Brede Hangeland's knockdown at a corner, but he was denied by Krul.

Newcastle's first opportunity was a very impressive one, with Ben Arfa heading cries of "Shoot" from the crowd with a powerful effort that former Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop did extremely well to tip onto the bar.

Krul was still alert, with the Dutch keeper making a good save to deny Diomansy Kamara.

Both keepers were getting a busy early workout, with Fulop making a fantastic stop to Ben Arfa in a one-on-one, before Krul made a superb stop to deny Johnson.

An offside prevented Johnson from converting the rebound, and from the free-kick, Newcastle eventually fashioned a chance for Luis Suarez, with Fulop making a superb stop to deny the Uruguayan's volley.

Newcastle then came close twice in quick succession, but neither Sebastien Bassong nor Gabriel Obertan could find the target with their efforts.

Both teams were missing the chances presented to them, and the profligacy continued when Paolo Sammarco was unmarked at a corner but couldn't find the target.

Fulop was then on hand to make a nice stop to deny Ben Arfa when the Frenchman had broken free, before Lewis Holtby's free-kick was wildly inaccurate.

Sammarco's half-volley that flew over was the final action of an entertaining half, and both sides left the field believing that they still had it in them to take the three points in this fixture.

The eventful nature continued at the start of the second half, with the first opportunity seeing Hangeland head over before Joey Barton failed to keep a free-kick down.

Barton then had a banana shot fly off target, but Newcastle were beginning to probe, and with 64 minutes on the clock, they had their breakthrough.

A fluid ball down the right-hand side by Danny Simpson evaded Aaron Hughes and was received down the right hand flank by Suarez, who ran free in acres of space to the penalty are. The Uruguayan could've shot, but instead laid it off in the middle of the six yard box, and Ben Arfa, who had always got a run on Hangeland, tapped the ball home.

A second goal in as many home appearances for the big money transfer deadline day signing from Marseille, who is looking like the best of Newcastle's three expensive summer recruits.

Fulham struggled to recover from this blow, but were still giving it a go, and their best chance came 14 minutes after the goal when nobody tracked the run of Hassan Yebda, and the midfielder's drive was well denied by Krul.

Fulham fans urged their heroes forward, but after the game was halted for an injury that ended Holtby's afternoon, Newcastle had the final chances, with a banana shot by Rasmus Elm landing wide.

Newcastle then wrapped up the points on 96 minutes. A half-clearance by Stephen Kelly was intercepted by Bassong, who played it for Ben Arfa. A wonderful ball from the Frenchman released Moussa Dembele, who advanced before finishing.

That ended any chance the result would end in anything other than a Newcastle victory, and the Magpies picked up their third win of a season. The fans are hoping for big things after last season's 4th place finish and the signing of £39million worth of new talent in the summer, and this result stands them in good stead ahead of a Champions League meeting with FC Twente on Wednesday.

Fulham will be disappointed, with the West Londoners having many attempts to register their first win of the season away at a team they have done surprisingly well at in recent seasons, and they slink back still searching for their first league win since the final day of last season back in May.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton, Schaars (Elm 60) - Obertan, Ben Arfa, Holtby (Dembele 90) - Suarez (Milner 83)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariaudo, Donaldson
Booked: Barton

Scorer: Ben Arfa (64), Dembele (90+6)

Fulham: Fulop - Pantsil, Hangeland, Briggs, Hughes - Henry (Kelly 60), Sammarco (Yebda 45), Etuhu, Kamara - Zamora (Konchesky 50), Johnson
Subs not used: Simonsen, Foster, Bramble, Dempsey

Referee: Peter Oakley
Attendance: 54,310

Its probably going to lead to escalation in UEFA's rules of fixture segregation before it gets really out of control. Having said that, maybe the political stuff would explain why Albania's last game with Serbia was in the 1960s, and certainly, with Kosovo's independence still being something Serbia won't recognise, it hardly meant this game would be all hunky dory.

Manchester United advanced into the Fourth Round of the Capital One Cup after winning in a penalty shoot out at Newcastle.

The visitors will have been disappointed not to have their chance superiority pay, with the team failing to add to Wayne Rooney's arty lobbed goal just before half-time.

Luis Suarez's first goal since April took the tie to extra-time, but after neither side could find a winner in the additional half an hour, it took penalties to separate the two teams, and former Manchester United captain Alan Smith proved the unlucky misser that ensured the visitors would be the victors.

The game came less than a month after Carlo Ancelotti's first competitive win of his Manchester United managerial reign came against the Magpies in the Premier League. He would not be directly facing his opposite number Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was serving a one game touchline ban after he criticised the referee during Newcastle's draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

The two managers differed in their respective approaches, with Manchester United naming a strong line-up while Newcastle opted to make six changes to the team that begun their game at the Emirates Stadium.

Under the watchful eyes of the Italy and Bosnia national team managers as well as the banished Eriksson, it was the visitors who fashioned the game's first opportunity, but Patrice Evra's impressive run was then followed up with an uninspiring effort that hit the side netting.

From a corner, Nemanja Vidic headed over in a competition Manchester United have earmarked as something to end a trophy drought that stretches back to their 2009 Premier League title.

A superb defensive intervention from Danny Simpson denied Federico Macheda shooting room, before Newcastle's first real opportunity saw Rasmus Elm hit a powerful drive from distance that flew past Raul Segura but found the crossbar.

Very quickly, the visitors went up the other end, with Rooney picked out and hitting a low drive that was superbly denied by Asmir Begovic.

Rooney then rifled a strike high into the stands, before Johnny Evans beat Moussa Dembele to a corner, only for the Northern Irish defender to put the ball wide of the mark.

Newcastle were not having great ease in chance creation, but they did have one when James Milner was released by Elm, only for his strike to land wide of the goal.

Elm was closer with his next effort, but the Swedish midfielder seeing a flowing drive from distance expertly kept out by Spanish goalkeeper Raul Segura.

Despite a 10 minute plus lull, Manchester United were still looking likelier to make something happen, with Rooney again presented a chance only for his drive to be kept out by a deflection, before a similar deflection kept out Vidic's effort just before the half-time period.

With half-time looming, both sides were hoping for the uplift of a pre-interval strike, and it nearly fell to Newcastle, with Stijn Schaars seeing a drive from distance just touch the bar on its way over the top.

Instead, there was a pre-half-time goal, and it fell the way of the visitors. The ball was worked up to Macheda, who laid it back to Anderson. His pass cut out Sebastien Bassong and picked out Rooney, who always had yards on Lorenzo Ariaudo. Now in space, the England talisman decided to try and chip the ball over Begovic, and he pulled it off superbly, with the ball nestling into the goal.

An impressive strike from a player that enjoys scoring against the team who he nearly joined instead back in 2004, and Rooney had given the visitors the lead in this encounter.

Newcastle used two substitutes at half-time and another within five minutes of the restart, but it was the visitors who made the early running, with Darren Fletcher and Rooney presented chances, only to fire them woefully away from the target.

The Magpies duly punished this profligacy with an equaliser. The ball was cued up to Ryan Donaldson, who jinxed his way past two before sending in a teasing cross-shot. Evans' clearance was insufficient, and the steamrolling Suarez hit a powerful first time drive into the bottom corner.

Suarez's first goal since April was a clear relief to the £12million buy from Ajax, and his manager will be hopeful this goal will begin to inspire a turn around in form.

The two players involved in Newcastle's equaliser almost combined for a counter-attack, with only a superbly timed defensive intervention by Vidic preventing room for Donaldson to convert Suarez's through-ball.

A surprisingly unspectacular run through to the end of the game saw Moussa Sissoko head the only chance straight for a long period of the game at Begovic.

Raul Segura was then alert to make a stop, with the Spanish goalkeeper making a great stop to deny Alan Smith's rasping drive.

This was the last action of the regular 90 minutes, and the game duly progressed into an additional half hour of football to try and find a winner.

However, the two teams' exhaustion was catching up with them, with one unsuccessful cross by Milner the only thing either side could create in the opening 13 minutes of the half.

The visitors were then looking for the goal, with an angled drive by Danny Welbeck kept out by Begovic, and Adam Ljajic's rebound held by the home team's Bosnian goalkeeper.

By contrast, the second half of the contest was even flatter, and it took second half stoppage time for a hint of an opportunity to appear. That fell to Rooney, who was denied by Begovic.

Newcastle then almost found a winner themselves, with Donaldson evading Vidic before his powerful drive was denied by Raul Segura.

Sissoko then saw an effort deflected into the gloves of Begovic, in what transpired to be the final effort of the game and the match duly went to a penalty shoot-out.

After Owen Hargreaves scored the opening kick of the shoot-out, Smith stepped up and saw his penalty kept out of the goal by Raul Segura.

No other player missed during the shoot-out, so with the score at 4-3, it fell on the shoulders of Welbeck to conclude the contest and send Manchester United into Round Four.

He managed it, and it concluded the contest in favour of a Red Devils team looking for their first trophy in four seasons. It was celebration on the part of the visitors, who will have a winnable 4th Round tie against Championship side Scunthorpe United in a month's time.

Newcastle: Begovic - Simpson, Ariaudo (Vertonghen 45), Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Schaars, Smith - Milner, Dembele (Donaldson 50), Obertan (Suarez 45)
Subs not used: Krul, Edgar, Bender, Ben Arfa
Booked: Smith

Scorer: Suarez (62)

Manchester United: Raul Segura - Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra - Hargreaves - Carrick (Ljajic 45), Anderson - Fletcher (Sissoko 76) - Rooney, Macheda (Welbeck 63)
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Mattock, Valencia, Mollo
Booked: Brown, Evra

Scorer: Rooney (44)

Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 56,387

The FA have handed Newcastle United manager Sven-Goran Eriksson a one match touchline ban.

Eriksson was handed the ban after he criticised a decision by referee Lee Probert not to award his team a penalty near the end of his team's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Newcastle manager will serve his ban during Newcastle's Capital One Cup fixture against Manchester United on Wednesday night.

In a written statement, the FA said, "We are disappointed that despite touchline bans in previous campaigns and having already handed fines and warnings this season, the Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is not changing his ways.

"We have no choice but to hand him a touchline ban for his team's next match."

Eriksson was complaining about an incident where he felt his team should have been given a penalty for a challenge made by Phillipe Senderos on Hatem Ben Arfa just before Newcastle's goal.

In his post-match press conference, he said, "We are happy to get a point but we should have got level earlier and would've had the chance had the referee done his jobs. Hatem was clearly through on goal when he was taken out by Senderos, which would have been a spot kick and a red card. That would've tied us up sooner, and we would've had the chance to win the game."

Eriksson received a touchline ban last December after he criticised the referee during a home draw with Stoke City.

That's the Serbian state TV's claim, right?

UEFA have confirmed both countries will now be subject to disciplinary cases.

The Serbian fan who hit an Albanian forward with a chair and then got tackled to the ground by the Albanian captain is perhaps the complete basketcase.

This is probably going to be the subject of UEFA's investigation but where the fuck did the drone come from and who was flying it?

Moussa Dembele struck a minute from time to help Newcastle snatch a late draw away at Arsenal.

Samir Nasri looked to have given Arsenal victory as they looked to continue curating a good start for Co Adriaanse in the post-Arsene Wenger career. But with time running out, substitute Dembele rescued a share of the points for the visitors, who drew for the third time in a week after drawing with Everton and Juventus.

It was frustration for the Gunners, who had the better of play and had many opportunities to win the game against the Magpies. But Arsenal ultimately failed to collect the three points.

Arsenal had needed a tonic after a disappointing defeat by Udinese in the Europa League earlier this week, and with Newcastle have not won away at either Highbury or the Emirates Stadium since 2001, they had been hopeful of victory.

It was the home team who had the game's first opportunity, with the ball landing for Nasri, only for the Frenchmen being denied by Tim Krul.

Newcastle's first chance fell to Rasmus Elm, with the Swede playing a trademark drive from long rang, only to fail to provide his usual accuracy.

Elm's low fizzing drive was then another attempt Newcastle had at getting the goal, and the Swede's latest attempt was more accurate, with Manuel Almunia required to make a firm stop.

Krul was then alert to make a nice stop to deny Cesc Fabregas' free-kick, before Havard Nordtveit couldn't provide an accurate effort in a melee from the resulting corner.

Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson was sent off when the two teams played last season at the Emirates, and having already been cautioned, the full-back's foul on Theo Walcott was surprisingly not followed with a second booking.

Tomislav Hormann was then next to try for the Gunners, and he got very close, with his powerful header from a corner rattling the bar, before Nicklas Bendtner forced a save out of Krul from the rebound, although his offside placing meant it wouldn't have counted.

Bendtner was not offside when his next opportunity was presented, but the Danish forward was unable to make the most of his opportunity.

Almunia was then alert in first half stoppage time to stop Lewis Holtby's fizzing drive from finding the back of the net.

The second half begun with Arsenal on the front foot, with Nasri ruffling the side-netting and Krul then pushing away a firm drive by the French winger.

Nordtveit then headed over from a corner as Arsenal looked likelier to make things happen, before Nasri then twisted and turned his way around the Newcastle defence only for Krul to deny him.

Almunia was not put under pressure as much in the second half, but he was alert just after the hour to deny Elm's low drive.

With 20 minutes to go, the tight game then fell the way of Arsenal. Billy Jones committed a foul on Nasri that gave the Gunners a free-kick on the edge of the box. Nasri was entrusted to take the kick, and the winger's beautifully placed effort opened the scoring in style.

A decisive finish from the French winger, who was enjoying a very delightful game on the left flank for the Gunners and who looked to have given his team the big advantage.

Bendtner could've wrapped the game up for Arsenal moments later, only for the Danish striker to inexplicably find the back of the stand rather than the back of the net.

Nasri looked up to find a second, but he was denied by Krul, before the unmarked Theo Walcott was similarly unable to get a strike beyond the Dutch goalkeeper.

Newcastle had finally begun to display signs of attacking life, with some lively attacking movement made by players in black and white stripes, but the only real chance they deployed was hit wide by Ryan Donaldson. They also felt a penalty should have been given, but a tackle by Phillipe Senderos on Hatem Ben Arfa was ruled lawful.

Yet with seconds remaining of normal time, Newcastle then worked a clear opportunity. Jan Vertonghen's quick free-kick was received by Donaldson, who worked it into the path of Dembele, and the Belgian forward's crisp strike landed beyond the grasp of Almunia and home.

A sickening blow for the Arsenal supporters, who appealed in vain for offside, but a moment to savour for the visiting faithful that came down from the North East, who were very happy to grab a goal and rescue a share of the points that had seemed beyond their grasp.

Arsenal tried to re-take the lead, but Walcott's dangerous cross found nobody, before substitutes Eduardo and Vaclev Kadlec could only shoot the ball straight at Krul.

Newcastle then had chances of their own to take a late victory of their own, but both Donaldson and Jones were woefully inaccurate with the shots they fired.

It bought down the curtain on an entertaining encounter between two sides who are both competing for the Champions League places. But both sides will arguably feel they could have been more accurate in their shooting, and will feel this is a chance missed at early season point scoring at the expense of their rivals, although on balance, a Newcastle team that scored in the final minutes and created less will probably be better relieved.

Arsenal: Almunia - Sagna (Eboue 89), Senderos, Hormann, Clichy - Fabregas, Nordtveit, Rosicky - Walcot, Bendtner (Eduardo 85), Nasri (Kadlec 90)
Subs not used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Jay Simpson, Vela
Booked: Sagna, Senderos, Fabregas

Scorer: Nasri (70)

Newcastle: Krul - Danny Simpson (Jones 68), Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Donaldson 78), Barton - Obertan, Ben Arfa, Holtby (Dembele 72) - Suarez
Subs not used: Begoivc, Ariaudo, Schaars, Milner
Booked: Simpson, Bassong, Jones

Scorer: Dembele (89)

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 56,967

I certainly wish we didn't loan out Lascelles - Coloccini and Williamson have no real competition, yet both have been fucking shite.

The Germany/Poland/Scotland/ROI group is looking really impressive. Will at least be something to liven up this process.

Newcastle opened their Champions League campaign with a credible draw against Italian giants Juventus in Turin.

Few gave the Magpies a chance against the Italian giants, but a stout defensive performance for the Magpies saw them cope extremely well, and it could have been even better had they not contrived to miss a number of superb opportunities that fell their way.

It was a fine performance from the English team away in Turin, against a side that was knocked out of last season's Champions League on penalties by eventual winners Barcelona following a 0-0 aggregate result.

This was Newcastle's first Champions League encounter since 2003, and was a return to this corner of Italy in the tournament. Juventus and Newcastle met one another in the first groups in that season, with Juventus winning 2-0 in Italy and Newcastle taking a one goal victory in the game at their home stadium.

Under the watchful eyes of Italy national team boss Alessandro Costaructa, Juventus had anticipated a good show against an English team without the experience of Europe's top tier in ten seasons, and no experience of competitive European football since 2007.

Despite this, it was Newcastle with the game's first opportunity, when Jose Enrique was picked out by Gabriel Obertan's sprightly delivery, but could only head the ball straight at Gianluigi Buffon.

Buffon was tested more with Newcastle's next attempt, with the legendary Italian goalkeeper making a flying stop to deny Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan had wriggled free.

Juventus' first opportunity took a while in creation, and was not an inspiring attempt, with Claudio Marchisio getting his header nowhere near the goal.

Newcastle were doing a very good job in neutralising the host's attacking momentum, and felt they should have had a penalty after 20 minutes, with the referee ruling Domenico Criscito had legally challenged Moussa Dembele rather than ruling foul as the home fans wanted.

The ruling from that was instead a Newcastle corner, and they almost got it home when Giorgio Chiellini's poor defensive header landed past his own goal.

Indeed, when chances were being created, it was the visitors creating them, with Suarez again finding Alex woeful opposition, and again finding an impressive stop from Buffon rather than the back of the net.

Stijn Schaars was then presented a chance to nab his first Newcastle goal, but he couldn't get his effort anywhere near the goal.

Buffon was then alert to keep out a 30-yard drive by Lewis Holtby, and then another stop to deny the German in first half stoppage time as Newcastle showed some impressive footwork.

But they were nearly undone in the seconds before the break, with only a firm stop from Tim Krul denying Sebastian Giovinco from finding the back of the net.

The second half failed to begin with the pace much of the first had been played at, with the first chance taking nine minutes of largely uninspiring football to be created. When it came, it fell the way of the visitors, with Suarez advancing menacingly again, but again failing to find the target.

Juventus then had two superb chances to seize control. First, a menacing drive from Diego was acrobatically tipped into the stands by Krul, then from a free-kick conceded by Holtby as Newcastle were trying to scramble the ball away, Alex's powerful drive rattled the bar with Krul beaten.

Krul then made another firm stop to deny Diego, before Alex then header over at the end of a scramble from a corner. In-between these two chances, Newcastle again appealed in vain for a spot-kick, with the free-kick appeals following a challenge by Alex on substitute James Milner was ignored.

Substitute Andy Carroll was then close with a Newcastle attempt, with the lanky number nine rising highest to Obertan's cross, only to head straight at Buffon.

The final ten minutes of normal time in the match struggled for much imagination, but the six minutes of stoppage time did yield a final chance to win the game. However, Amauri was unable to get his header beyond Krul's firm gloves.

The two teams ultimately shared the points in this tightly coiled encounter, which both sides could legitimately have claimed to have one. Certainly, Newcastle fans apprehensive about returning to Europe's top table in the Stadio Delle Alpi would have been relieved to take something from one of their most difficult fixtures, and could eve nhave been disappointed to have not taken the three points.

Both sides will now look for their first wins in two weeks time, with Newcastle hosting FC Twente and Juventus travelling to face Porto, who won 1-0 in Holland in the other game.

Juventus: Buffon - Grygera (De Ceglie 78), Alex, Chiellini, Criscito - Sissoko - Diego, Marchisio - Giovinco (Felipe Melo 53) - Amauri, Zarate (Paloucci 72)
Subs not used: Manninger, Burdisso, van der Vaart, Palladino
Booked: Grygera, Alex, Sissoko

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton (Jones 88), Schaars - Obertan, Holtby (Carroll 74), Dembele (Milner 63) - Suarez
Subs not used: Begovic, Edgar, Bender, Donaldson
Booked: Barton, Holtby

Referee: Babak Rafati
Attendance: 34,116

Jose Enrique scored his first Newcastle goal as the Magpies and Everton shared the points in an entertaining contest.

Hatem Ben Arfa's first Newcastle goal put the Magpies in front, but a controversial penalty scored by Yakubu got Everton on level terms within five minutes.

Johnny Heitinga then put Everton ahead, but they only held the lead for five minutes before Enrique's strike, and neither team could find victory in the final 25 minutes of the clash.

The game was a clash between two teams aiming for another successful European challenge, and who have taken different approaches. While Everton opted to field none of their roughly £20million summer captures, Newcastle gave starts for four of their summer signings after a busy summer buying players at St. James' Park.

Newcastle were presented the game's first chance, with the ball falling kindly for Moussa Dembele, only for Tim Howard to pull off a neat stop to deny the Belgian striker.

Tim Krul was then tested at the other end, with the home side's goalkeeper making a firm stop to deny Leighton Baines.

This proved useful as Newcastle took the lead from the game's next attack. A firm 20 yard ball from Danny Simpson was collected by Joey Barton, who played it into the path of Ben Arfa. The French attacking midfielder advanced and hit a powerful drive into the top corner.

A first Newcastle goal for the £11million transfer deadline day buy from Marseille, whose superb strike of the ball was too much for Howard.

Everton were hopeful of finding a quick way back into the contest, and were given it in controversial circumstances. Referee Howard Webb declared that a challenge by Lars Bender on Yakubu while the two were trying to reach Mikel Arteta's corner was illegal, and a penalty kick was granted. Newcastle players, management and fans howled in protest, but their calls fell on deaf ears.

Yakubu stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty beyond Krul to equalise. It was a first goal of the season in the process for the former Middlesbrough and Portsmouth striker.

Newcastle almost re-took the lead within a minute of kicking off, with Lewis Holtby picked out by a long ball and seeing a firm strike denied by Howard.

Krul was then required to make two saves within quick succession, with his first denying Yakubu and his even better second denying Leighton Baines.

A more rudimentary stop was Krul's next intervention, with Tim Cahill's weak header straight at the Dutch goalkeeper.

The bulk of the first half had failed to live up to the zip and zoom of the opening quarter, but Everton were having chances, and came close in first half injury time when Krul denied Jack Rodwell.

Newcastle then felt they should've had a penalty of their own when they claimed Cahill stopped Joey Barton from reaching the ball as the two competed to reach Holtby's free-kick, but the referee did not pay any attention to the midfielder's protests.

The Magpies then had the first opportunity of the second half, but Ben Arfa's attempt was not as accurate as his first one had been.

Newcastle had looked livelier in the second half of the game, but a wayward Barton hit was the only real effort they created, and their failure to create opportunities was duly punished by a second goal for Everton.

It also came in surprisingly simple fashion, with Heitinga rising highest to a corner and burying a header into the top corner. This was a better moment on Tyneside for the Dutchman, who had been sent off when the two teams met at St. James' Park in May, and it gave his team the platform to take the three points.

But minutes after Jan Vertonghen had headed one wide, Newcastle were back on level terms. Their way back came from the flanks, with Simpson teeing up Barton for a cross. The midfielder's cross picked out Jose Enrique, who turned home unmarked and perhaps from an unexpectedly forward position.

This was the full back's first goal in 148 appearances since joining the club in 2007, and the Spaniard was clearly delighted in finally breaking his account.

Substitute Ryan Donaldson was then the player to try his luck for the Magpies, but he couldn't get his effort onto the target.

Yakubu was then close to finding the game winner for Everton, only for Krul to pull off a magnificent stop to deny him a second goal of the game.

Howard was then alert to deny Donaldson's cross-shot from creeping in unexpectedly, as both sides tried to find what would have been the game's decisive fifth goal.

The winner nearly came with 94 minutes on the clock, only for Yakubu's drive to be denied by the goalkeeper, before Howard made a rudimentary stop to deny Donaldson at the other end of the pitch.

It was a busy encounter for the two teams, with both sides coming close on many occasions to add to the game's four goals. Ultimately, the points were shared after a game both teams could have won on another day, and they will both be hoping it stands them in good stead ahead of tricky European tests in the coming week.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Barton, Bender - Milner (Obertan 59), Ben Arfa (Donaldson 78), Holtby - Dembele (Suarez 73)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Ariuado, Schaars
Booked: Simpson

Scorer: Ben Arfa (9), Jose Enrique (71)

Everton: Howard - Castro (Neville 45), Heitinga, Spence, Ribiero - Arteta, Fellaini (Bartley 72), Rodwell, Baines - Cahill - Yakubu
Subs not used: Steele, Eardley, Arboleda, Pepe, Eder
Booked: Ribiero, Fellaini

Scorer: Yakubu (pen 16), Heitinga (66)

Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 56,387

Krul out of Leicester game. Rob Elliott (one clean sheet in 11 league games for NUFC) will play vs the Foxes.

Oh wonderful.

Andy Carroll has been linked with a move back to SJP. Doubt it tbh.