LILLESTROM SK 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 3
LILLESTROM SK: Fredriksen, Winsnes, Kippe, Rambekk, Stefanutto, Riise, Mouelhi (Strand 46), Sogard (Wehrman 46), Koren, Occean, Mifsud (Sundgot 61).
Not used: Muller, Bertheussen, Myklebust, Andresen.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Taylor, Bramble, Babayaro (Moore 69), Solano, Parker, Emre, N'Zogbia (Pattison 86), Milner, Ameobi (Butt 77).
Not Used: Harper, Ramage, Faye, O'Brien.
Although it was very much doom and gloom prior to this InterToto fixture in Norway with Lillestrom recording a credible draw at St James' Park last week (then telling us it was just their Reserve side), but Glenn Roeder NEVER gave out the wrong signals. He stayed up-beat all week, insisting a valuable lesson had been learnt in the first leg, and his players were not about to give a repeat.
Newcastle booked their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup with two goals from Shola Ameobi and a curling late strike from Emre, but at no stage did Lillestrom seriously give United a fright.
Apparently Ameobi was a big doubt before the match, as he continues to have problems with his injured hip, but he went through the pain barrier and set United on their way to a superb victory.
The former England Under-21 international, who we all know is the only recognised out-and-out striker (half) fit and available, did his job well. Ameobi has his doubters, I'm sure, but Roeder got the best out of him as he played with five across the middle and encouraged his pacey players to link up with him at every opportunity.
It may not work to such good effect in the Premiership, but at this present time we are just delighted to get this banana skin out of the way.
Milner was the first to try his luck in the second minute when he fired a shot wide from the edge of the box as Lillestrom failed to clear, and Emre drove a 30-yard free-kick into the wall six minutes later after a foul by Nolberto Solano.
Ameobi's first sniff of goal came after a quarter of an hour when he got on the end of an Emre corner but headed powerfully just over the top.
The breakthrough came for Newcastle following another set-piece after 28 minutes. Solano back-heeled on the edge of the box to Charles N'Zogbia who fired a shot goalwards. Lillestrom goalkeeper Otto Fredrikson managed to block the Frenchman's shot, but Ameobi followed up to give Newcastle the lead.
N'Zogbia released Ameobi beyond the Norwegians' defence after 33 minutes and the striker managed to square the ball across goal but no-one was up in support.
The Magpies doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Scott Parker rounded off a good run with a cross which was poked home by Ameobi to put the visitors in firm control.
Lillestrom, captained by former Liverpool player Frode Kippe, had more of the possession in the second half but barely threatened Shay Given's goal. They had an effort sail over the bar and Given was on hand to make one save, which to be honest, he put his cap on it.
Emre added a third in the final minute as he unleashed a curling shot into the top corner on an encouraging afternoon for Magpies boss Glenn Roeder.